How dirty is your stick

We had an off hand conversation at work the other day. It was about work ethics and how people have their own internal code of what is acceptable to them. Now, if you work on a team, usually the pressure of the team forces the less motivated to step up to the standards set forth. For some reason, we have had our share of people in our work environment who are not influenced by that “peer pressure”. Weaseling their way out of work any way they can. Which is an astonishing feat to watch at times since weaseling always, and I mean always, entails much more effort than simply getting the work done.

Instead of stepping up to the expectations from their peers, those particular employees have had a tendency to resign instead. Finding other places of employment where they felt they can continue their weaseling ways. Eventually it will catch up with them. In shapes and forms not expected. Whatever you give out, will come back to you in many different ways, entrenching your existence with the same intentions that you are living your life.

I know we all have varying degrees of morals, ethics and integrity. The question is: How dirty is your stick?

There are so many things that I have observed others do, that to this day I can not get myself to do. On the other hand, I have done lots of things that would be morally questionable by societal standards, without batting an eyelash. Over the years my strict outlook on everything having to be black and white has begun to blend into all sorts of different grays. I’m not excusing anyone’s behavior or actions. Especially not mine. I have simply come to realize that at times it is asked of us to “walk through the shadow valley of death” with as much integrity we can muster to come out on the other side with greater faith than we started.

The question here is: What is your integrity based on?

If you only do the “right” thing because you fear either the punishment or the shunning from society, maybe it is time to evaluate who you are. Don’t be afraid of labels placed on you by people who are clueless about the spiritual quest you came here for. Just as God has given each of us different gifts to share with each other, so are we bestowed our own challenges to overcome to allow us to grow into “seeing” the other side of things. Providing us with a broader scope of acceptance, love and forgiveness.