Saturday, February 11, 2012

Destroyed By Duplicity

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. ~Proverbs 11: 3



Duplicity: the contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action. Integrity (the antonym of duplicity): the quality or state of being complete, whole or undivided.

Duplicity/Destruction: these two words have been ringing in my ears for days. I am a duplicitous creature; I know this. And if you are honest with yourself you do too. We all do. In those quiet moments in the dark, as you lie awake, you know that your are not truly what you pretend to be all day in front of others. My life, all of me, lacks complete wholeness; an integrity without divide. So does yours. Are you afraid? I am. Of being found out. Of being caught in the lie. I do not desire duplicity, but I am incapable of . . . integrity . . . completely. Is there hope for wholeness?

And this wisdom word from Proverbs proves true as evidenced by the leadership failures of some of our Navy's Commanding Officers. But, I don't want to go there, at least not for too long. Because duplicity is my problem as well. So I wonder, will it destroy me (or you)?

Integrity or Duplicity: choose today. Will you be guided uprightly or digress a bit closer toward destruction?