Honesty and Integrity vs. Karma

If I've learned nothing else in life, I've learned that karma is unforgiving and relentless. The long term effects are simply not worth the instant gratification. Whether or not you're a spiritual person, right is right and wrong is wrong, and integrity should practiced by everyone. Integrity is just the practice of doing what is right, even when no one is watching.

Today, my integrity was heavily tested. This morning I awakened to a strange SUV parked in my driveway. This vehicle also happened to have a rather large amount of cash in it, in plain sight. My options were either to break into the car, take the money, then call the police and just say I found it that way; or call the police and let them handle it all. What do you think I did? What would you have done?

Here's a little backdrop, I lost my job last July and have had no real income since then, all of the bills are behind, and just yesterday I prayed hard for a lump sum of cash so that I could take care of some pressing things. I know, generally random lump sums of cash don't just spring from a tree, even after prayer, but hey...this time it just dropped into my driveway! Should I take this as an answer to my prayers, or a test of my character? Do I desire the cash so greatly that I am willing to steal for it? After all, it would be stealing - regardless of the fact that it was on my property. So now what?

Teaching children about stealing

Well, some of you will be proud of me, others will think I'm stupid. Either way, I'm satisfied with my decision. I did call the police, seeing as how there was a strange vehicle blocking my driveway, making my daughter late for her schoolbus. I did not however, steal the money inside. Even the officer said to me, "Just break the window, I'll go sit in the car." As tempting as that offer was, I opted to practice honesty and integrity. Who knows what that money was for. Perhaps it would have put the owner's life at risk. Perhaps taking it would have put mine at risk. I do have to ask though, what kind of idiot leaves that kind of money in the car for any passerby to see.

The moral of the story is simple, yes I could have taken the money and solved my financial problems, but that would have put me in a place of discomfort, worrying about recourse from the owner or worse, the universe. No amount of money or stuff is worth losing your peace of mind, soul, and it you believe like me...the favor of God.