Integrity many of us were taught, is doing the right thing when nobody is looking. Well….
I TOOK AN INTENTIONAL DRIVE TO WHOLE FOODS TODAY.
I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I COULD AND COULD NOT HAVE; AND I WAS EXCITED TO GET MY BROCOLI RABE WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND MY BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CRANBERRIES! I MEAN VEGETARIAN OR NOT THAT COMBINATION IS EVERYTHING!
ANYWAY, AS I WALK TOWARDS THE FOOD AREA I HAVE TO PASS THE LITTLE PIZZERIA INSIDE. AS I WALK BY I NOTICE THE NICE AND FLUFFY FRESH LOOKING GARLIC KNOTS THAT I ALREADY ASSUME I CAN’T HAVE BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE LOADED WITH BUTTER. (RIGHT?) BUT I SAID YOU KNOW WHAT LET ME ASK BECAUSE AFTER THE COUNTRY CROCK PLANT BUTTER I HAD LAST NIGHT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR SOMETHING TO TASTE GOOD WITHOUT DAIRY BUTTER.
SO I PROCEED TO ASK THE YOUNG LADY: EXCUSE ME MISS, IS THERE BUTTER IN THE GARLIC KNOTS?
MS.: ACTUALLY NO THERE’S NO BUTTER IN THEM.
(AT THIS POINT I DON’T BELIEVE HER, SO I PROCEED TO ASK AGAIN AND SHE LAUGHS AND STILL SAYS YES....)
MS.: I PROMISE YOU THERE’S NO BUTTER.
ME: I’LL TAKE TWO PLEASE.
[AT THIS POINT I AM SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR.]
I GET BACK TO WORK...EXCITED ABOUT MY NICE AND TOASTY GARLIC KNOTS. STILL TO MY SURPRISE I READ AND NOTICE THE INGREDIENTS ON THE PACKAGE.
NO BUTTER!!! YAY! AND THEN…..LIKE A TON OF BRICKS IT SAYS: “PARMESAN CHEESE”
IMMEDIATELY, I’M DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE NOW PREPARED MY TASTEBUDS FOR THIS!
FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT TO MYSELF: “JUST DO IT” JUST HAVE ONE. YOU’LL BE FINE. NOBODY WILL SEE YOU.
WHEN I SAID NOBODY WILL SEE YOU TO MYSELF, I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT WASN’T ME. I HAVE BEEN PROUD OF MYSELF FOR LIVING IN MY TRUTH AND BEING OK WITH “ME” AT THIS STAGE IN MY LIFE. WHY WOULD I COMPROMISE THAT FOR A PIECE OF BREAD. A GARLIC KNOT AT THAT.
THAT’S HOW YOU ARE TO INTEPRET
WRONG WHEN YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT.
SEE IT FOR THE UNNECCESSARY EVIL THAT IT IS AND SAY TO YOURSELF “IT’S NOT WORTH MY INTEGRITY!
NOBODY WILL KNOW. NOBODY CAN SEE ME. BUT GUESS WHAT? I KNOW. I CAN SEE ME, AND AT SOME POINT...HOW I TREAT ME AND VALUE "ME" HAS TO MATTER. BECAUSE IF IT DOESN’T I WILL ONLY DO THE RIGHT THING(S) FOR THE WRONG REASONS AND THAT IS THE MAKING OF A DECEITFUL HEART.
AND THE WAGES OF THAT SIN…IS NOT WORTH THE FIRST BITE…
