Finding True North: Moral Compass

Dear Friends,

You might be thinking, when is she going to write something fun. I promise, the day will come. But today, my mind has been pre-occupied with the notion of the Moral Compass, and how the strength of it impacts our lives, our leadership, our careers, our decisions and our actions.

What does a person with a strong Moral Compass do when there is a shortage of toilet paper or Lysol wipes in the stores because of a pandemic? Do we horde or share? Do you donate one of the 2-3 boxes of facial masks to the hospitals, or do you keep it for your family? What does a person with strong Moral Compass do when they have choice of telling the truth that might hurt someone? What does a leader with strong Moral Compass do when one of their hardest workers makes a mistake? What does a parent with a strong Moral Compass do when their kid is being bullied at school? What does a leader with strong Moral Compass do when her superior wants her to do something you do not believe in? I am sure we all were faced with decisions that are more complicated than meets the eye.

A few weeks ago, I attended a Celebration of Life for my friend's father, David W. Messer, an amazing man. I was sitting behind most of the attendees in the pews of the Royersford Baptist Church listening to Rev. Marcia Ricketts. While I am a person of limited knowledge to devotion to faith, I couldn't help being present in the moment and observe.

Several things struck me that day: how healing and personal growth flourishes in sorrow; how someone's life accomplishments and greatness could be realized in death, because it is unintentionally seamless in life; how a person's legacy carefully constructed in life is only truly solidified in death; and how much regardless of your religious intentions and discipline, certain words and notions drive home a message that transcends all religious nuances. It was a great awakening experience for me to be part of the celebration, but what moved me the most that day were the words, Moral Compass. Along with his amazing accomplishments as a father, stepfather, grandfather, husband, writer, historian, colleague, and parishioner, Rev. Marcia Ricketts told us that David Messer was a man of a strong "Moral Compass". She said, "We needed him to keep us on the right path". What an amazing way to give someone depth and the legacy.

Leaving Royersford Baptist Church, during my hour-long trip home, I couldn't help but think about my life and my Moral Compass. Would people say that about me? Is it enough to have this as an important ingredient for a successful career or a meaningful contribution in life? Do leaders with moral compass get recognized? Does it mean having a strong unwavering ability to know right and wrong? Does it mean treating people with dignity and integrity no matter what? Is it easier or harder to live this life having a strong Moral Compass?

I am not a philosopher, nor do I pretend to know all the answers. What I do know is a strong Moral Compass is an important ingredient for me to be remotely successful as a mother, as a wife, as a daughter, as a leader, as a friend, as a human being, because I want to leave the same legacy, David Messer did for his family. I feel that if we had more people guided by the true north of a Moral Compass, the world would be a much kinder and better place.

Go to Hell,

Ray of Sunshine

Definitions from

moral compass: an internalized set of values and objectives that guide a person with regard to ethical behavior and decision-making:

Integrity: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.