There is hardly a David Brooks column I wouldn’t recommend. He is one of the most even handed columnists I can find anywhere. His column today, however, is simply exceptional. He usually is worth reading, so I would say if you have a chance to read a column of his, do so.

With today’s column, I would say, “READ IT!”

“READ IT, and pass it on! READ IT, pass it on, digest it, and pass it on again!”

He tackles the issue of being basically good in our own eyes. The basic thought begins with what we know: pretty much everyone cheats, but only a little. The illustrations are very poignant. He hits too close to home for me!

How many times have I thought about saying I looked a little better on something. Not by much. Just a little.

I can remember a few years ago watching a teenager I was buying for ask for a cup for water in a fast food restaurant, then go over to the soda machine and just start pouring out any soda their little heart desired. I went back to the counter and paid for a cup and brought it back to them.

“Why?” was the question. “They can afford it. It’s just soda.”

We basically think we’re good, and if we cheat, we cheat just a little. I may have hit a “9” on that hole on the golf course, but the temptation is to say “8.” (Hey, guys! I know you’re reading this, so notice I said temptation.)

…most of us think we are pretty wonderful. We can cheat a little and still keep that “good person” identity. Most people won’t cheat so much that it makes it harder to feel good about themselves.

We try to measure our “goodness.” The problem there is we don’t have an “official scale.” When we try to morally justify our goodness, the scale keeps sliding. I teach an Old Testament survey class. One assignment I give them for the semester is to read the Old Testament and give me a list of what books they completed at the end of the semester. I leave them to their own honesty and talk to them about integrity. The reality? If they didn’t read the entire Old Testament rarely will they put down that they read the entire Old Testament. However, I have no doubt that if they read 25 books, they might put down 27 books they read. I truly believe some are dead honest and put the actual number as well. We’re “good,” but that scale keeps sliding.

Your moral standards will gradually slip as you become more and more comfortable with your own rationalizations. So step back. Break your patterns and begin anew. This is what Yom Kippur and confessionals are for.

Brooks’ contention is that we should quit shooting for “goodness.” We should aim for “rectitude.”

Our mistake in our current culture, and unfortunately among Christians, is we are settling for “good enough.” We are settling for mediocrity.