Speed Friending

Dev and I recently took En Route to a youth rally where we played a version of speed dating called speed friending as an ice breaker. One of the sample questions provided was this: What is the character trait you value most in a person?  I was asked this question a few times during the game and the first and only answer I could think of was this: Integrity.

Donald Miller has been writing quite a lot on integrity lately (Read a bit of what he has to say here) and I'm realizing that it is one of the very first things I evaluate in a person when I am interacting with them. I always have my truth radar on asking myself if what a person says and what they are living is aligned. The results of this subconscious analysis immediately tells if I can respect the person and ultimately predicts the possibilities of what our relationship can be.

If I have this truth radar for those I interact with, I have to turn it back to myself and hold myself to the same standard...that's only fair right?

I have seen a few areas of inconsistency within myself and I believe the next season for me is removing these areas of inconsistency.  I have high aspirations for my life with God and my relationships and the mark I want to leave on this world and especially while passing milestones (marriage, beginning my career, buying a house...kids??) I am feeling this great need to see these aspirations become reality.

So the next season for my life is a journey to greater integrity. I want my values and dreams to be actualized in my life. I want it to be very apparent that I practice what I preach.

There are a few specific areas that I am aware of where I can make changes and would love to share those with you in a conversation, but I know there are areas of my character that can be spoken to only by those who are looking at me from the outside.  So this is an invitation for you to speak. I welcome your observations and thoughts on my integrity. Feel free to call or we can meet up or whatever...

I expect this season to bring changes that will affect various areas of my life and relationships so I ask for your generosity and understanding that this is the first in many conversations and the resolution and creation of many tensions. 

It's gonna be fun!