We have been hearing much discussion about how honesty has been forgotten.

Some citizens criticize vehemently what they consider as a corrupt Government. Television images and newspapers denounce those who have looted public coffers direct or indirectly.

All of us who read these newspapers, watch those newscasts and approve of this or that supposedly dishonest character being arrested, forget something very important.

Honesty is a rare virtue nowadays. We have gotten so used to frauds and embellishments that we no longer pay attention to what we do.

Let's examine some examples. Dishonesty is not uncommon in marriages.

For instance, extramarital affairs. Whatever the reason, there are no excuses for that.

There is also dishonesty in business, when second-grade merchandise is sold as premium product.

And the costumer is even granted a special discount.

However, they know they are fooling the buyer. There is nothing wrong with profiting in a commercial enterprise.

However, damaging those who are buying in good faith is not correct.

And what about professional dishonesty? How many physicians, attorneys, teachers do not carry out their duties with honesty?

When the doctor does not care about his patient, his sole concern being getting over with those underpaid hours.

When the lawyer misses a deadline or is not as well prepared as he should be and therefore harms his client's cause.

Or when he extends some causes unnecessarily, charging regularly his monthly fees.

When the teacher does not prepare his classes and deceives his students, their parents and the school or college board, he is being dishonest.

When an employee leaves his glasses or her purse on the desk, or his coat hanging from the back of the chair, pretending his at the workplace when he is elsewhere, that is dishonest.

When we use the time our company is paying us to attend to private issues, to make phone calls or just for idle chatting, we are being dishonest.

When, 20 or 30 minutes before the end of our shift, we are already ready to go, just waiting to punch out, we are stealing from our employers.

Let us think: it is only 20 or 30 minutes today, but in 30 or 35 years, how much we will have stolen from our employer?

And we do this every day, unconcerned, as something natural.

We are getting used to being dishonest, using excuses such as being underpaid, unacknowledged, or just because everybody does it.

Let us think about this and analyze our actions in the world.

Let us check how dishonest and incorrect we are being at home, at school, in the workplace, in society as a whole.

Let us correct our course while there is time. If other people do it, that is their problem, not ours.

Let us be those who make a difference. Let us not be scared of being called fools.

The real fools are those who think they are tricking their own conscience, where God's own laws are written.

Let us rethink our actions and, from now on, firm a solemn, unrestricted pact with honesty.

From this very day on, irrevocably. Believe it: we will be much happier, with no regrets and no fears.

Spiritist Moment Team, based on the TV program Vida e Valores
-  Honestidade, presented by Raul Teixeira and Cristian Macedo, Fep  edition.
August 23.2010.