There has been a word floating around a lot lately, and it is one which has come to be known as a characteristic of strength, consistency and value: integrity. This word has been used to describe someone as unwavering in their actions and words — someone whom one can depend on to be the same moral person, even in immoral situations. Without integrity, there are many institutions which would fail and crumble underneath the sin and suffering we all bring to them as humans, and the same goes for the community found here at Calvin. Integrity is one of the foundational characteristics and values that many pride themselves in, and is one that many intentionally instill into the community to make it flourish. However, there is one instance where what may seem like integrity becomes a detriment to a flourishing community: hate.

There has been so much negativity, hate, destruction and death in the world these days. This has come about because there are people in higher positions who have too much misplaced integrity — they are unwavering in their disdain towards others, causing a perpetuation of alacritous hate. Because of the static positive connotation placed on integrity, there are those who place themselves in a seat of hate and feel that wavering in any way will be perceived as weak and will leave them lacking the sought-after trait of integrity. Having this rigid mentality of a constant positive view of integrity is a specious perspective.

So, with this understanding of integrity, coupled with this new school year, I challenge you to lose your integrity when it comes to the hate you harbor inside — the negativity you feel towards the person sitting next to you, the professor teaching you, even towards the prisoner sitting at the Handlon Campus who is writing a column about integrity for Chimes. Let this persuade you to dismiss your tightly held mentality towards integrity. Integrity is a necessity to make our community flourish, but, when used improperly, it can be the value which tears the whole community down. Let go of integrity, allowing love to flow through you; the world needs less integrity and more love.

If love becomes the primary function of our lives, then there is no need to rely on integrity as a staple value because we will always be the person we are meant to be, and the person we need to be for others. Integrity then becomes a product of love, and will never be something used to perpetuate any negativity in any community. So, I implore you to throw down your rigid hold on integrity, and instead of using integrity as the fuel to perpetuate hate, allow love to take over your life. Break this static connotation for integrity and love everyone. If you are to have integrity towards anything, have integrity towards love.