Truth

With truth we can never go wrong, because in upholding it we gain the trust and friendship of those around us, which is pivotal to our lives. Christ founded the Church so that we can develop a relationship with Him, yet also develop community with others that share our faith. Those who lie to get to the top may succeed in the short run, but will fall because they rely on no one but themselves, and as a social creature one cannot survive in this way. Sure one could have friends in the short run, but likely not the type of friends who will stand by in the tough times.

None of us tell the truth every single time we should; we all fail, but integrity is all about picking up the scattered pieces after we fall and seeking to rebuild what has been lost. Often this takes time, but it is in seeking the unachievable that we improve what we can be, and the Lord is there to give us the grace to do so. I am reminded of Thomas Merton's The Road Ahead, "But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing." We cannot achieve the perfect human condition as we are a fallen race, but we can do everything in our power to uphold what the Lord has shown us to be right in our lives. And that is truth as best I can tell...