Hey everyone, it’s Brett. Welcome back to our Legacy Letters series.
Today, I want to talk about something that feels a bit like a lost art in the modern world: integrity. It’s a word we throw around a lot in business meetings and graduation speeches, but what does it actually mean to live it? I was thinking about this the other day, and it brought me back to a story about sheep. Yes, you read that right: sheep.
But before we get into the farm animals, let’s look at the word itself. The concept of integrity actually originates from the Latin word integer. If you remember your middle school math, an "integer" is a whole number. It’s not a fraction; it’s not broken into pieces. It’s whole.
That’s exactly what integrity signifies in a person: a life that is undivided. It’s a life characterized by honesty and consistency of character. It means that who you are when everyone is watching is exactly who you are when you’re all by yourself. Acting in alignment with your values, beliefs, and principles: even when it costs you something: is what defines integrity.
The Foundation of Leadership
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the guy who served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Western Europe during World War II and eventually became President, knew a thing or two about pressure. He once stated:
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, whether it be on a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Think about that for a second. Eisenhower didn’t say the supreme quality was intelligence, charisma, or even bravery. He said it was integrity. Because if people can't trust that you are "whole": that your word is your bond: they won't follow you. Not really.
Truly great leadership is a rarity these days because, unfortunately, integrity isn't exactly commonplace. If we take a look at the world today, we can see that there are very few countries or organizations being led truly well. We see a lot of "fractions": people who are one way on social media and another way behind closed doors.
Crooked as a Corkscrew
This isn't a new problem, though. If you look back at Psalm 78 in the Bible, the psalmist reflects on the history of people and, sadly, finds a massive lack of good leadership. Instead of people standing tall with integrity, there is a constant cycle of rebellion. The psalmist describes them as “traitors: crooked as a corkscrew.”
I love that imagery. A corkscrew is designed to twist and turn; it never goes in a straight line. When leadership becomes "crooked as a corkscrew," everyone suffers. Values get twisted, promises get broken, and the "wholeness" of the mission falls apart.
But God was looking for something different. He was looking for a leader after His own heart. He eventually found a young guy named David. Now, David wasn’t perfect: we know his story has some major stumbles: but he was a rare example of great leadership because of how he started and how he led.
From the Pasture to the Palace
David was chosen by God to be the shepherd of His people. The Bible says David led them with "integrity of heart and skillful hands."
I love that combination: integrity of heart AND skillful hands. You need both. If you have skillful hands but no integrity, you’re dangerous. If you have integrity but no skill, you’re ineffective. But when you put them together? That’s when you change the world.
David didn't learn to lead in a boardroom. He learned it in the dirt, tending to sheep. He knew what it was like to protect the vulnerable, to stay up all night watching the horizon, and to do the thankless jobs that no one else wanted to do. He was arguably the greatest leader the people ever had because he never forgot his roots.
This reminds me of something Pope Francis once said. He urged leaders to be “shepherds living with the smell of sheep.”
Yep… Smells Like Sheep
What does it mean to "smell like sheep"? It means you aren't leading from a high tower. It means you are down in the trenches with the people you serve. You know their struggles, you feel their pain, and you're getting your hands dirty right alongside them.
At Operation T.A.G. (Tangible Act of Gratitude), we strive for that every single day. We don’t want to just talk about gratitude; we want it to be tangible. We want to be in the "pasture" with our veterans and military families.
Today, God can take you from exactly where you are: whether you feel like you’re in a dead-end job or just "tending sheep" in obscurity: and use you in an incredible way. The condition is simple: you have to be willing to embrace the essence of the sheep. You have to be willing to lead with integrity, to stay "whole," and to get close enough to the people around you that you start to smell like the work you're doing.
Are You Ready to Lead?
Whether you are a veteran returning home, a service member looking to plant roots, or just someone reading this blog wondering how you can live with more integrity: know this: your "sheep" are waiting.
There are people in your life who need a leader who is "whole." They need someone who isn't crooked as a corkscrew. They need someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty and "smell like sheep."
If you’re a military family looking to buy or refinance, we’d love to stand in the trenches with you. Let’s make that dream of homeownership a reality together.
Stay whole, stay humble, and don't be afraid of the smell of the work.
Blessings,
Brett Stacy
National Director & Founder of the Hometown Hero Credit
A program of Operation T.A.G. (Tangible Act of Gratitude)
501(c)(3) non-profit project of HDCF
Websites: www.OperationTAG.org and www.HometownHeroCredit.com
Phone: 760-456-8748 (24-hour Information Line)
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