My girlfriend's son was eating a sandwich the other day. He sat in the living room for a while as he munched on his salami and cheese. At one point, when my attention was elsewhere, he took his napkin, bundled it up, and carried it to the garbage can like he is supposed to do. After my attention was back, I asked him,"did you eat all of your sandwich?" Our little three year old took off running, which he does sometimes when he thinks he is in trouble. I called him back and asked him again. He very reluctantly told me "no." I went to the garbage and removed the wadded napkin. Inside of it I found only three 1 inch strips of crust.
Truth. He knows what it is. We all know what it is. However, in order to give it a title, we must also know its counterpart. Don't get me wrong, that little boy knows how to lie too. But how does he know what either one is? Me. His mother. His friends. Is this the correct answer? Or does it just come naturally to us all?
As a child we all lie for various reasons. We feel guilty because we did something wrong. Or, maybe because we want something ("no, I didn't already have a piece of candy!"). There are two simple ways to go: truth or lie. Adults make a whole other catagory.
We create a whole other area to make ourselves feel better about our reasons for lying. We may call it a grey area, "white lie," or maybe an omission of the truth. The funny thing about it is that the motives for the lies are the same as when we were little children.
Jesus only had one category.
Truth is incredibly powerful. If you have ever had a friend that you have never had to lie to each other, you know that. Sadly, the reality of things is that, if you are lucky, you may have only one of those people in a lifetime. Having someone that you can tell the bad things to even though you know its going to hurt-admitting that you made an incredible mistake and knowing that, though it may take some time, they will forgive you-being able to tell someone the whole truth without omitting the unfavorable parts-loving someone so much that you are able to do the same for them. How many, honestly, have you had in your life?
The truly great part of this realization is that no matter what your answer is, you get to add one more. God is the ultimate best friend, the perfect companion, the reliable partner.
I look around sometimes and amazed at how hard it is for some people to see that. They spend their lives so full of lies and deceit because that do not trust anyone. Folks who lie to their friends because they want so much for what they are doing to be the right thing, all the while ignoring that it isn't God's way so it can't be right. People of faith trying to cover up their own weaknesses by inventing a new truth.
I do my best to forgive, ask for forgiveness, and love those around me, but I am not perfect either. But I know God knows my weaknesses, I confess them to him and thank him for his grace and forgiveness.
Because he IS truth.
P.S. If you are reading this, be patient--this is my first blog and I am long winded. I am working on making my thoughts more concise. God Bless.
