Fear, Stress & = Integrity Poem by Tom Zart

We're a nation of frazzled families
With little time for personal affection.
As the treadmills of tension keep us hostage
We're losing our perspective of direction.

Racing to get the kids off to school,
Navigating the madness of bottleneck traffic.
Fearful of our own job-loss and income,
While the newscasts get more hopeless and graphic.

Helping our children with their homework
Scrambling to prepare their dinner.
Having family spats with loved ones
And being told on Sunday, we're a sinner.

Worrying about crime, taxes, cancer and terrorism
Infectious disease and paying next month’s bills.
Saving for college and our own retirement
It's no wonder we drink, smoke, pray and pop pills.

What Satan has planned for our harm
Integrity will transform to good.
Adhering to morals gives us peace
Teaching us to respond, as we should.

Sometimes we must go against the flow
Questioning what our shepherd’s may say.
For they are not God, only human
And for their integrity, we pray.

Though faith we can stay undiminished
Keeping ourselves entire and whole.
Avoiding human hate, fear and mistrust
While struggling to preserve our soul.

With honor we obtain uprightness
And by love and compliance we gain grace.
Integrity gives us proper goals
Improving the standard of our race.

Those who laugh at the straight and narrow
Will not hear God's answer to their cry.
Those who yearn to earn their integrity
Must not steal, persecute or lie.