Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. –Samuel Johnson
Gentle reader, for the context of this topic, Guiding Life Principles, please see PART I.
This morning I will continue to explore my Guiding Life Principles.
Integrity. My Guiding Life Principle is ‘At all times, speak and act rooted in Integrity. Many years ago the word/concept ‘Truth’ not ‘Integrity’ was the final word. The great German philosopher Kant believed that one should always – and I emphasize ALWAYS – speak the truth. For Kant it was clear: If one did not always speak the truth (think: be honest, be transparent, be clear and direct, never lie, and never manipulate, etc.) one could not live a life rooted in integrity.
More than 50 years ago I discovered that one could lie rooted in integrity. Integrity trumped truth-telling. As a young university student I had already read about and heard stories about people ‘lying with integrity.’ Folks who hid other folks from the persecutors often lied with integrity. Integrity is also one of my 3-4 ‘Core Life Values’ (Each of us has integrated 3-4 ‘Core Life Values’ that support us, motivate us, and inform our decisions. They are ‘Core’ because to the best of our ability we will never compromise them).
If I choose to know myself then I will seek to discern both my Guiding Life Principles (especially those that are ‘Core’ to my being) and my ‘Core Life Values.’
Core Life Purpose. How many of us can clearly speak to our Core Life Purpose? I was clearly aware of my ‘Call’ when I was 16 years old (my ‘Call’ to be an ‘depth-educator’); although I was not able to emerge the exact words until I was in my early 40s (prior to having these two words – ‘depth-educator’ – emerge into my consciousness I used the terms, ‘teacher, educator, advisor, counselor –none of these ‘fit’ well enough; once the concept of ‘depth-educator’ emerged I knew immediately that this was the fit I had been searching for (as an aside: I had never stopped searching for the ‘right words’ – the ‘being open’ and the ‘searching’ are crucial).
On the other hand, I was 53 years old when I finally discerned my ‘Core Life Purpose.’ Until then I had tested out a number of ‘Purposes’ and ‘Passions’ and yet none of them felt ‘Core’ to me. In May, 1997 I had a dream. For about 18 months I had been immersed in a ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ journey. On the night of my ‘dream’ I was in a hotel in Vancouver British Columbia; I was preparing to spend three days with one hundred Christian School Principles. Our topic was: ‘Call, Passion, Purpose.’
As I was preparing to retire I found myself in a rant. I was loudly ranting to God. My rant’s focus was on my not being clear about my ‘Life’s Purpose.’ I ranted and raved for some time. Then I fell into a deep sleep and had the following dream:
I was sitting comfortably in a room. I could not discern anything in the room except that I felt comfortable and peace-full. Then a White Tablet was presented to me. On this White Tablet (it seemed to be about 3 feet long and 2 feet wide) written in brilliant red letters were the words: You Are Love-Able! I read them. Slowly the tablet was removed and then it was replaced with another White Tablet. On it were written, again in brilliant red letters, these words: They Are Love-Able! Slowly this tablet was removed and a third tablet replaced it. Again it was a White Tablet and the words were written in brilliant red letters. This tablet read: You Are Here to Love!
After I read these words I immediately woke up; I was refreshed and I experienced an inner peace that I have never felt since then (less than an hour had passed – in real time). For the first time I was absolutely clear as to my Core Life Purpose. When I close my eyes today I can see
You Are Love-Able!
They Are Love-Able!
You Are Here to Love!
Searcher-Seeker 
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