Life lessons appear before us every day, if we are being fully present to them. For example, take this week’s lesson on integrity…
Have you heard about the call reversal in the Jack Sock/Lleyton Hewitt tennis match earlier this week in Australia? The umpire called a serve out, resulting in a fault against Hewitt. However, the ball actually hit the line and a point should have been awarded to Hewitt. Jack Sock saw the ball hit the line.
What would you do next?
Watch this one minute clip; notice how everyone reacts to Jack’s suggestion that Lleyton should challenge the call.
Hewitt’s face reveals his disbelief and surprise when Sock tells him the ball was in. The umpire is confused when Sock suggests that Hewitt should challenge the call. A nervous laughter wells up in the fans. The announcers are almost speechless. It seems that no one can quite comprehend what they are hearing and watching.
That was in if you want to challenge it.
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines integrity as the quality of being honest and fair with a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values. A frequently quoted definition comes from C.S.Lewis: “Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”
With apologies to Lewis, integrity could also be described as doing the right thing when everyone is watching, but no one sees. Except Jack Sock.
The Washington Post suggested that Jack Sock is a contender for good Sport of the Year. A good sport is someone who is easy-going, agreeable and a nice person. I believe Jack Sock should be recognized for his personal integrity. He didn’t want an advantage he didn’t earn. He didn’t want his opponent cheated. He wanted the outcome of the match to be integrious.
In my mind, Sock’s actions went way beyond being a good sport. They were an example of personal values and integrity at its finest.
Good on you, Jack.
