Often in life we have to take a test. Life is a test. Sometimes it is a measure of our intelligence, other times it a test of will, and occasionally life can test our patience. But the single grain of truth that is embedded in all of these tests is that life is a test of integrity. Have you passed? Can you pass? Are you passing? Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking. For example, you are pumping gas at a local station and a man gets out of a car and drops a brown paper sack. You proceed to watch the wind kick around his litter and think to yourself What a bum! Yet, mysteriously out of the bag marches $20 bills that are all folded symmetrically. In an unbelievable parade the bills stream out into the gas station and dance in the wind. You alert the bum and begin helping him pick up $20 bills immediately. Illegal money? Probably. Me exercising my integrity? Most certainly.
Honor it. Do the right thing, even if no one is looking. Answer the call.
Writing is a calling. Teaching is a calling. Nursing is a calling. Serving your country is a calling. You do it, even when no one is looking, because it is right for you.
Planting a seed, even when no one is watching, will someday lead to the satisfaction of sitting under the tree and reading your own first book. Writers write because they are called to write. If you've felt the call you cannot ignore it. Do the right thing and write, even when no one is looking.
