Integrity

I have been searching my mind for a light to shine on the darkening path, a shelter for the coming storm.  This storm has brewed before and how people faced these times was passed on from people of a common bond because common virtue was the common door to freedom.  It was also very much a Christian base for understanding, because common virtue is fed by common faith.  We are truly standing on the shoulders of giants.  They got to be that way by a hunger for the one thing that was it's own reward; virtue.  It has been years since I have read anything published currently about the cardinal virtues.  One of them is Integrity.

The Honest Farmer

Retold By Emma Lyman Cabot

There was a war in Germany long ago, and thousands of soldiers were scattered over the country.  A captain of the cavalry, who had a great many men and horses to feed, was told by his colonel that he must get food from the farms nearby.  The captain walked for some time through the lonely valley, and at last knocked at the door of a small cottage.  The man who opened it looked old and lame.  He leaned on a stick.

"Good day sir," said the captain.  "Will you kindly show me a field where my soldiers can cut the grain and carry off for our army?"  The old man led the soldiers through the valley for about a mile, and in the distance they saw a field of barley waving in the breeze.

"This is just what we want.  We'll stop here," exclaimed the captain.

"No, not yet," said the old man.  "You must follow me a little farther."

After another mile or two, they came to a second field of barley.  The soldiers dismounted, cut down the grain tied it in sheaves and rode away with it.

Then the captain said to the farmer:"Why did you make us walk so far?  The first field of barley was better than this one."

"That is true, sir," answered the honest old man, "but it was not mine."