Spencer Johnson said, “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” Hi, I’m Tom Ellsworth from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with a minute message.
Fifty-one year old Australian, Rudolf Stadler, had to face up to the truth and he had to be honest with others about it. His adventure began as a favor to a friend who needed help putting down a sick cow. Stadler carefully coaxed the ailing bovine into a shed in order to put it out of its misery. His first two shots, however, both missed. What’s worse, the second stray bullet hit a passing motorist in the leg. The motorist recovered and Stadler was fined for his deed. I suspect, though, that his honesty kept him from any worst penalties. To admit publicly that he twice missed an object the size of a cow in the confined space of a shed…well, that’s a penalty he will live with the rest of his life.
Be truthful with yourself – admit your limitations. God knows what they are and so do others. And be honest with those around you. It may be painful, but honesty is still the best policy. How you handle the truth determines your integrity.