January 18 – Integrity
Lisby
Rogers
Read: Luke 16:10
I made the
choice to commute by bike about three years ago when I started thinking of how
much money I could save on gas by riding rather than driving. The act started
out as a selfish one: I am poor; this is how I can save money. But it has
formed into a way of life, something I believe in deeply and feel called to.
There are
some obvious benefits to bike commuting: saving gas money; using less gas,
which contributes to our support of middle eastern conflict over oil; getting
more exercise and never needing to find a parking spot. Over the years I have
found other, more surprising benefits, like setting a slower pace to the day:
you naturally give yourself more time and, therefore, schedule less into a day
which contributes to a lower stress level. Living a simple life by using a
simpler vehicle makes me more self-sufficient. When my car breaks down I am
helpless, but when my bike breaks down I can usually figure it out and I am not
out hundreds or thousands of dollars.
In a way, my
bike has taught me about integrity. It is not always easy to ride in the rain,
when driving would be so much warmer and more comfortable. I am not always
motivated to give myself an extra half hour to get somewhere when I am anxious
to complete a task. The wind is cold against the face and hands in the morning,
and sometimes getting on my bike is the last thing I want to do. But each time
I ride I think of it as prayer, as self-examination, as testimony, as prophecy,
as compassion, as seeking peace in a conflicted world, as loving.
Trying to
define how to live an integrity-filled life is near to impossible. For me,
integrity looks like riding my bicycle everyday, no matter what; for you, it
may look entirely different.
Queries:
What does integrity
look like in my life?
In what ways do I
already live with integrity?
How am I being
invited to live out my professed beliefs with a deeper level of integrity?
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