Contagious Candor
Theme of the Week: Spurn Spin
Thursday, August 4, 2005
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery (Proverbs 28:23). Bonus Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:12-14,17-19a,23
After I preached on spurning spin, Steve promised himself and God that he would no longer place blame elsewhere to excuse his own behavior. A few days later, he told me, he failed to allow enough driving time to make it to a meeting. Arriving 20 minutes after the meeting began, he took his seat and apologized. "I'm sorry I'm late," he began. "I can only blame my own poor choices. I didn't allow enough time to get here. Please forgive me."
His honesty stunned everyone in the room. Finally, the meeting leader said, "Well, I'm sorry you're late too, but thanks for being honest about why. That's the kind of openness we need in this meeting."
A lively conversation on the benefits of greater honesty in their business ensued. Then another person entered the room out of breath, offering the usual blame-everything-else kind of excuse. The others laughed because this man's spin looked foolish in light of Steve's gutsy honesty.
Steve said that the quality of conversation for the rest of the meeting was unusually frank. The same tone continued in the days that followed. His renunciation of spin was contagious and transformed the work environment.
—Mark Roberts in Dare to Be True
My Response: Have I found telling the frank truth more often resented or appreciated?
Thought to Apply: Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of tricks and duplicity than straightforward and simple integrity in another.—CHARLES CALEB COLTON
Adapted from Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003) by permission.
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
I realize, Lord, that You desire honesty from the heart. But I kid myself and fudge the truth to impress others. Help me to change.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| 
