What a month we've had! Perhaps like me, you spent more time than usual glued to the news. The events unfolding in Japan this past month are sobering at best, terrifying at worst. My heart goes out to the people of Japan as they struggle to cope with the disaster that has befallen them. My respect and awe go to the workers at the Fukushima power plant, the government and the rescue workers from Japan and other countries, as they work against all odds to recover from a "triple whammy," any one part of which would be crippling.
As I follow the unfolding drama, I read about and witness the incredible integrity of the Japanese people. Through it all they "keep faith with (their) ideals and live by (their) deepest values."
Linda Kavelin Popov tells us that "Integrity is standing up for what we believe is right. We keep faith with our ideals and live by our deepest values. We keep our agreements reliably. Our actions match our words. We strive to balance impeccable integrity and unfailing tenderness for others and ourselves. We cherish the challenge of doing the right thing in all circumstances. We give excellence to whatever we undertake. We live by our personal covenant."
Though Japan has seen food shortages, no power and much uncertainty, looting has been all but absent as the country faces this crisis. This is in stark contrast to the situations in Haiti and New Orleans after their respective disasters.
What makes a people, or a person, act with integrity? What does integrity look like?
Depends on the situation.
For instance, integrity is one of the virtues I most wish to stand on. Part of the journey I'm having with integrity is to be totally honest about what's really true for me and really looking after myself. At times, this causes others in my life to be disappointed. Looking after me doesn't always allow me to serve them in the familiar ways.
Yet I've come to realize the only way I can show up in integrity in my wider life is to make sure I am trustworthy enough to show up for and take care of the only person I can be sure to spend the rest of my life with. Me.
I learned this the hard way, as I've alluded in previous posts.
At those times when I must forego others (or wider service) to look after myself, I'm comforted by the sentiments of Alan Cohen -- "Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused."
Confucius advised that "To put the world right...we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right."
That too, is living with integrity.
"When used as a virtue term, ‘integrity’ refers to a quality of a person's character; however, there are other uses of the term. One may speak of the integrity of a wilderness region or an ecosystem, a computerized database, a defense system, a work of art, and so on. When it is applied to objects, integrity refers to the wholeness, intactness or purity of a thing—meanings that are sometimes carried over when it is applied to people.
"A wilderness region has integrity when it has not been corrupted by development or by the side-effects of development, when it remains intact as wilderness. A database maintains its integrity as long as it remains uncorrupted by error; a defense system as long as it is not breached. A musical work might be said to have integrity when its musical structure has a certain completeness that is not intruded upon by uncoordinated, unrelated musical ideas; that is, when it possesses a kind of musical wholeness, intactness and purity." Stanford Encylopedia of Philosophy
Something about the Japanese culture obviously supports this kind of wholeness, intactness, purity.
Another thing I've been spending a lot of my time on this month is doing what I can to help save a small Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem in my little town. I'm not alone. Over 1,400 people have signed a petition to try and save Echo Heights, a 52-acre fir forest with two meadows of rare Garry Oaks, from being mowed down and paved for "progress." Many of us had hoped that the local government, which supports preserving Coastal Douglas Fir zones in its Official Community Plan, had seen the light and would honor the integrity of this piece of land.
Unfortunately, although they have modified their plan, they will soon give first reading to a by-law that - - if passed -- would result in high-density dwellings being built on 40 % of this precious ecosystem. The other 60% would not have a hope of recovering, and many species of plants and animals would lose their home.
Lately in British Columbia, the once-endangered Bald Eagle (unique to North America) has been literally falling from the skies -- dying due to starvation, because of low salmon spawning returns. The integrity of their ecosystem is breaking down; who knows what the outcome will be?
Like the Bald Eagle, old-growth Coastal Douglas Fir forests once dominated Eastern Vancouver Island, the place I am blessed to call home. It is beautiful and abundant with life -- but unfortunately, to date almost 99 % of this forest land has been logged, much of it lost forever to urban space and farming.
The coastal fir forest, beautiful and rare, is also critically important to the whole region for water capture and storage (and subsequent release of water during droughts), for climate regulation, carbon storage and clean air. It supports 127 plant species and 81 animal species, all of which are at risk if this ecosystem disappears. It is also unique to this area of the planet; once it is gone, it will live no more, forever.
For at least six years now, a small group of people have been valiantly trying to save Echo Heights, our local piece of this land. And all the world over, folks are lobbying and marching and writing letters and blogs -- standing up for the integrity of their lands, for justice, for people and place, for peace, for democracy, for common sense.
For most if not all of them, its a matter of integrity. They have no choice but to stand up for what they believe is right. They are passionate and generous. They've given hundreds of hours of their time.
There are so many worthy and important causes in the world, so many opportunities to practice integrity by standing up for what we believe in, for living by our personal covenant.
Someone who epitomizes integrity -- standing up for what he believes in, and living by his own personal covenant -- is David Suzuki, a Japanese-Canadian academic, scientist, broadcaster, activist and environmentalist who turned 75 in March. He co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990 "to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us." He has been speaking out for his whole career on issues that affect us all -- oceans and sustainable fishing, climate change and clean energy, and sustainability.
I try to honor the work Suzuki has been doing by thinking globally and acting locally, by speaking up for and encouraging stewardship of the Mother Planet we all depend on. And by helping others to do the same, through my work with The Virtues Project. This has become my heart's deepest promise.
As we move into spring, may buds of positive change continue to burst from the roots of our integrity. May they support blossoms of peace, justice and sustainability the world over.
May humanity realize, We are the ones we've been waiting for -- and roll up our sleeves and get to work -- creating a legacy worthy to leave to future generations. May Gaia support our efforts as we work to support her.
Namaste
~ Kate
PS: If saving Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystems calls to you, or if you'd just like to learn more about this specific little forest near my home, click the links above in this blog. You can also join Echo Heights Forest on Facebook -- to show your support. And if you'd be willing to lend your voice to call for its protection, please write a letter of support to: council@northcowichan.ca
The Practice of Integrity
I live by my ideals.
I am faithful to the virtues of my character.
I am trustworthy.
I temper righteousness with forgiveness.
I strive to do the right thing.
I abide by my heart's deepest promise.
I am thankful for the gift of Integrity. It supports me to walk my talk.
Reflection questions
What is my heart's promise to which I must abide?
How can I better live by my ideals?
What are my deepest values?
What is my personal covenant?
As I follow the unfolding drama, I read about and witness the incredible integrity of the Japanese people. Through it all they "keep faith with (their) ideals and live by (their) deepest values."
Linda Kavelin Popov tells us that "Integrity is standing up for what we believe is right. We keep faith with our ideals and live by our deepest values. We keep our agreements reliably. Our actions match our words. We strive to balance impeccable integrity and unfailing tenderness for others and ourselves. We cherish the challenge of doing the right thing in all circumstances. We give excellence to whatever we undertake. We live by our personal covenant."
Though Japan has seen food shortages, no power and much uncertainty, looting has been all but absent as the country faces this crisis. This is in stark contrast to the situations in Haiti and New Orleans after their respective disasters.
What makes a people, or a person, act with integrity? What does integrity look like?
Depends on the situation.
For instance, integrity is one of the virtues I most wish to stand on. Part of the journey I'm having with integrity is to be totally honest about what's really true for me and really looking after myself. At times, this causes others in my life to be disappointed. Looking after me doesn't always allow me to serve them in the familiar ways.
Yet I've come to realize the only way I can show up in integrity in my wider life is to make sure I am trustworthy enough to show up for and take care of the only person I can be sure to spend the rest of my life with. Me.
I learned this the hard way, as I've alluded in previous posts.
At those times when I must forego others (or wider service) to look after myself, I'm comforted by the sentiments of Alan Cohen -- "Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused."
Confucius advised that "To put the world right...we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right."
That too, is living with integrity.
"When used as a virtue term, ‘integrity’ refers to a quality of a person's character; however, there are other uses of the term. One may speak of the integrity of a wilderness region or an ecosystem, a computerized database, a defense system, a work of art, and so on. When it is applied to objects, integrity refers to the wholeness, intactness or purity of a thing—meanings that are sometimes carried over when it is applied to people.
"A wilderness region has integrity when it has not been corrupted by development or by the side-effects of development, when it remains intact as wilderness. A database maintains its integrity as long as it remains uncorrupted by error; a defense system as long as it is not breached. A musical work might be said to have integrity when its musical structure has a certain completeness that is not intruded upon by uncoordinated, unrelated musical ideas; that is, when it possesses a kind of musical wholeness, intactness and purity." Stanford Encylopedia of Philosophy
Something about the Japanese culture obviously supports this kind of wholeness, intactness, purity.
Another thing I've been spending a lot of my time on this month is doing what I can to help save a small Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem in my little town. I'm not alone. Over 1,400 people have signed a petition to try and save Echo Heights, a 52-acre fir forest with two meadows of rare Garry Oaks, from being mowed down and paved for "progress." Many of us had hoped that the local government, which supports preserving Coastal Douglas Fir zones in its Official Community Plan, had seen the light and would honor the integrity of this piece of land.
Unfortunately, although they have modified their plan, they will soon give first reading to a by-law that - - if passed -- would result in high-density dwellings being built on 40 % of this precious ecosystem. The other 60% would not have a hope of recovering, and many species of plants and animals would lose their home.
Lately in British Columbia, the once-endangered Bald Eagle (unique to North America) has been literally falling from the skies -- dying due to starvation, because of low salmon spawning returns. The integrity of their ecosystem is breaking down; who knows what the outcome will be?
Like the Bald Eagle, old-growth Coastal Douglas Fir forests once dominated Eastern Vancouver Island, the place I am blessed to call home. It is beautiful and abundant with life -- but unfortunately, to date almost 99 % of this forest land has been logged, much of it lost forever to urban space and farming.
The coastal fir forest, beautiful and rare, is also critically important to the whole region for water capture and storage (and subsequent release of water during droughts), for climate regulation, carbon storage and clean air. It supports 127 plant species and 81 animal species, all of which are at risk if this ecosystem disappears. It is also unique to this area of the planet; once it is gone, it will live no more, forever.
For at least six years now, a small group of people have been valiantly trying to save Echo Heights, our local piece of this land. And all the world over, folks are lobbying and marching and writing letters and blogs -- standing up for the integrity of their lands, for justice, for people and place, for peace, for democracy, for common sense.
For most if not all of them, its a matter of integrity. They have no choice but to stand up for what they believe is right. They are passionate and generous. They've given hundreds of hours of their time.
There are so many worthy and important causes in the world, so many opportunities to practice integrity by standing up for what we believe in, for living by our personal covenant.
Someone who epitomizes integrity -- standing up for what he believes in, and living by his own personal covenant -- is David Suzuki, a Japanese-Canadian academic, scientist, broadcaster, activist and environmentalist who turned 75 in March. He co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990 "to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us." He has been speaking out for his whole career on issues that affect us all -- oceans and sustainable fishing, climate change and clean energy, and sustainability.
I try to honor the work Suzuki has been doing by thinking globally and acting locally, by speaking up for and encouraging stewardship of the Mother Planet we all depend on. And by helping others to do the same, through my work with The Virtues Project. This has become my heart's deepest promise.
As we move into spring, may buds of positive change continue to burst from the roots of our integrity. May they support blossoms of peace, justice and sustainability the world over.
May humanity realize, We are the ones we've been waiting for -- and roll up our sleeves and get to work -- creating a legacy worthy to leave to future generations. May Gaia support our efforts as we work to support her.
Namaste
~ Kate
PS: If saving Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystems calls to you, or if you'd just like to learn more about this specific little forest near my home, click the links above in this blog. You can also join Echo Heights Forest on Facebook -- to show your support. And if you'd be willing to lend your voice to call for its protection, please write a letter of support to: council@northcowichan.ca
The Practice of Integrity
I live by my ideals.
I am faithful to the virtues of my character.
I am trustworthy.
I temper righteousness with forgiveness.
I strive to do the right thing.
I abide by my heart's deepest promise.
I am thankful for the gift of Integrity. It supports me to walk my talk.
Reflection questions
What is my heart's promise to which I must abide?
How can I better live by my ideals?
What are my deepest values?
What is my personal covenant?
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