22.
The Art of Honesty
“The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
There were several weeks in 2015 when I had little to no motivation to write about relationships. Watching the fallout of the racial tension from Ferguson, the evil activities of terrorists in the Middle East, and my own battle with my identity had almost erased my desire to encourage people toward better and meaningful relationships. Then I was reminded of the importance that one voice might have in a dark world of preconceived notions, ignorance, and prevalent deception. I can choose to influence others with the truth about relationships. It is difficult. It is downright messy at times, but the reward of even just one changed relationship is worth it. One voice can have an impact.
It occurred to me that one of the most significant deterrents to healthy, meaningful relationships is deception and lying. We believe what is being presented to us (without testing), and we hide the truth because we are afraid of what others may think about us. Deception is one of God’s primary concerns because He knows it separates us in the relationship with Him and each other.
Recently, I was reading about how early we as humans learn the skill of deception.^22 It was pointed out that as young as six months old, a child will come to understand that if she cries, someone will come and give her attention. At first, the cries are signals for food, a wet diaper, or affection. Then, like Pavlov’s dog and the bell that became the stimulus for action, the parent responds out