Sep 18, 2025

The Moment That Changes Everything A Reflection on Integrity, Calling, and the Price of Leadership

There’s a sacred weight that comes with saying yes.

When you sign your name to a job offer, shake hands on a new opportunity, or step into a role of influence, you’re not just taking a position—you’re stepping into a promise. A promise to serve with excellence, to uphold the mission, and, for those of us who follow Christ, to reflect the heart of the One who called us.

But eventually, you’ll come to that moment.
The Moment of Impact.

It won’t announce itself. It won’t wait for a convenient time. It might even come dressed in the familiar—an email request, a subtle conversation, a directive that doesn’t sit quite right.

That moment will force a decision:
Will you choose what’s right or what’s easy?
Will you serve the mission or your own survival?
Will your ethics be anchored or situational?

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

These moments aren’t theoretical. They’re real. And they reveal the kind of leader you are becoming.

I call it Centered Morality. A scriptural compass calibrated not by convenience but by a Christ-like conviction. It’s the difference between doing things right—and doing the right thing.

Doing things right is following the “rules.” Completing tasks in proper order. Polished performance. But sometimes, what’s right on paper feels wrong in your soul.

Doing the right thing, however, goes deeper. It considers people. Purpose. Legacy. It asks, “If I make this decision, what story will I be telling with my life?”

Let me tell you a story—one I’ve never forgotten.

Once the CEO of Arby’s, Leonard Roberts, found himself in one of those watershed moments. He had made a bold promise to support franchisees with money and resources—tools they needed to thrive again. And under his leadership, they did.

The company flourished. Trust deepened. Momentum grew.

Then, the parent company, which reconsidered: more profit, less support. The promise was being pulled back. Though Leonard had the authority to comply, he recognized this wasn’t just a business shift—it was a breach of integrity.

He could’ve stayed. He could’ve justified it.

But he didn’t.

He walked away—not because he lost, but because he refused to lose himself.

That’s leadership. Not loud or flashy. But costly. Anchored. Holy.

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” (Proverbs 11:3)

So, let me ask you—have you had your moment of impact yet?

Have you faced a fork in the road where your integrity was on trial?

When it comes, how will you respond?
Will your decision reflect a leader worth following?
Or a person who bowed to the pressures of the moment?

People may not always remember your words, but they’ll never forget how you showed up when the stakes were high.

They’ll remember if you stood firm. If you did the right thing—when it would’ve been easier not to.

In today’s culture, we don’t just need more bosses. We need spiritual leaders—men and women whose convictions are tethered to the Truth. Who loves justice, walks humbly, and leads with grace.

We need leaders with a legacy mindset—thinking beyond quarterly profits and considering generational impact. Those who measure success not just by what they build, but by who they become.

Because, in the end, your title won’t define you.
Your paycheck won’t outlast you.
But your integrity? That echoes into eternity.

So let your yes be yes. Let your heart stay centered. Let your leadership be rooted in a higher standard.

Let every moment be an offering.
Let every moment leave an impact.

Let the moment leave a Legacy!

Dr. Wendell K. Murray is a seasoned educational leader, ordained minister, and leadership coach with over 30 years of experience guiding schools, ministries, and organizations through transformative growth and development. His writings focus on faith, calling, and legacy—encouraging leaders to walk with wisdom, courage, and conviction.