My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
—Psalm 17:4-5
The psalmist doesn't see the crowd mentality as an excuse. Having integrity means acting according to my own moral compass. Living in a violent society does not mean I have to live by violence. Just because everyone around me is armed to the teeth does not dictate that I need to keep weapons at hand. God's steadfast love is a better defense than a handgun. What's the point of protecting my body if my commitment to weaponry endangers my soul?
May my actions, words, and thoughts be filled with your shalom, O God; in the Name of the Prince of Peace, who taught me to pray: Our Father...
