A Matter of Integrity

I had a surprising phone call from a very good friend today. She was upset and didn’t like the manner in which I was conducting myself. Frankly, she was pissed. Blue flame shooting through the phone – that sort thing.

There was an immediate urge to appease her and simply calm things down. Agree with her argument and "just let it go". The problem was, I didn’t agree. More importantly, concurring with her would undermine other activities which were important to me.

The point here was not right or wrong. It was a matter of integrity. Integrity as a Scientologist isn’t some nebulous catch-phrase or a moral fixation. "Integrity" derives from "Integer" which means "whole, complete or unbroken". Having personal integrity means one is unbroken – a complete person. Deviations from my own certainty and beliefs (against my own better judgement or will) would dilute me as a person. I wouldn’t be complete. If I supplicated to my friend in order to avoid this confrontation – and agreed to act differently - I’d feel obligated to continue to act against my own judgement. Not good.

Instead of taking the easy way out, I talked with my friend and presented the whole story. Some of it was difficult to explain and some of it was not easy for her to hear, because she firmly disagreed. In the end, we both maintained our integrity – and found a new level of respect for each other in the process.