Look at the picture above. It is a painting by Luca Giordano, entitled, "The Archangel Michael Flinging the Rebel Angels Into the Abyss."

Study this painting well, for it accurately illustrates the nature of Integrity. The demons are the world --- chaotic, evil, howling with their self-inflicted disorder. But Michael is yourself, forever above the worldly tumult, wielding the sword of clarity to keep the chaos down.

Integrating yourself with your origin, you find integrity. Going back to the bedrock of your being, you finally stop denying what you are. This morning-of-creation true-ness, this only-ness of being the truth that you cannot help being --- this is integrity.

What? Did you think that you would shine with some other light than the one that is good? Did you imagine that it might be cool to be clever and evil? Perhaps you should reconsider these beliefs.

The world teaches equality and forbearance toward everything. It suggests that everyone should have an equal vote. It calls this system of thought, "democracy."

But the necessary outcome of everything being equal is that evil will be equal with good, that evil people will have equal power with good people, and that evil's contemptible weakness will have artificial help to overcome the natural strength of righteousness. And this is exactly what evil wants. So it taught you to throw away your aristocratic power, and to grovel in the dust as a democratic worm.

Consider the gentleness, beauty, and power of Giordano's St. Michael. So should your self be.

Not so, you say? You think that you are not very beautiful? You believe that others are better than yourself? You say that you cannot possibly battle all the world, that you are not adequate to the task?

Consider carefully, O Child of Wisdom and Might, O Wanderer from the Realms of Intelligence. Not only are you capable of being the strong arm of goodness itself, you are required to do so.

Because --- deep down --- in your heart of hearts where no one else ever sees --- you know that anything else is unhappy. Being less than beautiful is --- well, ugly. And no one wants to be that.

Except for demons. Demons are beings who have fallen into ugliness, into meanness and weakness and every vice. Not only that, but they desire to do so. Not only that, but they are proud of their weakness. In addition, they think it is cute to walk down the street, giggling, letting everyone hear how powerful they are in their group profanity.

Does this sound like someone you know? Your neighbor, perhaps? Someone closer? Somebody right at hand?

This, indeed, is the problem.

And this realization, indeed, is the solution --- there is no truth but truth, and courage is his prophet. There is no nobility but the one chosen as an act of free will, simply for the sheer beauty of it. There is no advantage in anything, for all things dissolve again into the dream. But the quality of your life, the beauty of your actions, the nobility of your good and magnanimous heart --- these alone remain, for they are immortal, mirroring the eternal beauty on the level of your life. These are the substance of integrity.

How do you begin? Know thyself, O wandering one. Be serious about your life. End your involvements with evil people. Make new friendships with those who are noble and good. Cultivate your virtue, expand your mind, keep company with the authors of great literature. Live honestly all your days. Seek to become your true and only self.

Sincerely,