PREPARE YOUR EYES TO READ AND YOUR HEART TO RECEIVE AS YOU TAKE IN THE WORDS THAT LOOK TO CHANGE LIVES, RENEW HEARTS, AND OPEN MINDS.
Over the past few weeks, I have seen an abundance of holidays that I have never heard of before. Allow me to add another non-official holiday to your calendar that I recently discovered.
July 7th is Tell the Truth Day.
Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle have had debates on this topic along with other philosophers such as Kant and Schopenhauer. Depending on who you ask, you will get varying answers if telling the truth is always the best policy.
In “The Pursuit of Happiness,” Will Smith’s character went in for an interview and was characterized as looking like a garbage man by one of the interviewers. He was late for the interview because he ran across town from jail in a white t-shirt, some old pants, and a Member’s Only Jacket, with paint everywhere. After his introduction to the committee, he told them he was trying to think of a good story about his appearance for such an important interview. He then stated that he couldn’t think of anything good, so he told them why his appearance was such. The true story of his arrival was probably better than the imaginary story that he was trying to conjure up.
I know we all like to be told the truth, but are there times when lying is justified? Are there certain times when not telling the truth is better? In the film “A Few Good Men,” Jack Nicholson delivers the memorable quote, “You Can’t Handle The Truth,” to explain why he wasn’t forthcoming with the truth earlier.
Until you teach, and I do stress the word teach, a child to lie, then they will be the most honest and sincere person that will provide feedback to you whether you want to hear it or not. A child learns to lie through their parents’ spoken words and actions. Think about what parents tell their children to say for them. Fred, tell whoever is at the door that daddy is not home or Sara, don’t tell dad that “Uncle Jodie” stopped by the house while he was at work, knowing that person is not a family member.
I find it to be comical when you are having a conversation with someone, and they use some of these phrases, “to be honest with you,” “to tell you the truth,” “honestly,” and “I put that on everything I love,” or “I tell you, I ain’t lying to you.” Why must you interject with a statement to say to me that you are being truthful? Have you been lying up until that point?
Other than a child, who does not know how to lie, there are other occasions when the truth runs freely from people’s mouths. One circumstance is when the truth serum, alcohol, is heavy in the veins, the liquid courage takes over, and the truth spews out of the mouth.
Another occasion is when something important is on the line, such as a life or possibly someone’s character. Others use pillow talks to take advantage of expressing truth.
When someone blatantly lies, they are looking to gain an advantage over someone or to get out of something. Often the lie will remain factual until a personal moral conviction takes over or there is a discernment of the truth.
What untruth has gushed out of your mouth because you were in a moment of rage, trying to get one over on someone, trying to get out of something, or even trying to save someone from hurt or pain if they knew the truth?
We have all been in one of these situations during our lifetime, but if you reflected on that moment, was it worth it? Did you miss out on something more significant by not telling the truth, speaking rashly, and reacting impulsively? #SPEAK2MYHEART
