I can almost pinpoint the day I decided there would be no more lying in my life--not from me, nor from anyone around me. As soon as I made that decision, everything that contained even one iota of falsehood fell away. It has not been an easy journey, but I have no doubt it is the only path to take. My children know that truth reigns at home, so I am constantly challenged to speak and live it. There is no other way to teach that except by example. On that, I never compromise. That's why I am now a radar for deceit and lies.
I have become so sensitive to lies it isn't even funny. I can tell when a person is lying, weaving stories and making monumental "palusot". My body reacts. I feel it in my gut--an invisible knife that twists and turns, affecting even my breathing. I can't stand it.
I have found that people lie for one main reason: to protect themselves. When they say they lie because they don't want to hurt others--well, they're lying to themselves. That's a cop out. They do not want to face the consequences of their lie--the truth they are trying to protect. They do not want to take responsibility for the hurt they will see manifested in another human being. So, they take the easy way out and compound this hurt by weaving more lies. What they fail to see is that the truth literally sets everyone free. It sounds like such a cliché but it's true. The truth hurts but it is a well-lit path towards healing. A lie is a muddy path to nowhere.
Lies always wound. They damage people because the very essence of man is aligned with Truth, whether we are aware of it or not. Any lie is an act of violence towards another person's soul and spirit. Everyone knows when a lie is in the air. We sense it. But if someone we trust and love is lying to our face, our defenses kick in and we start to think we are wrong, because how could they knowingly envelope us in darkness? How could anyone consciously and willfully take the light away from us? This very process of unwarranted self-doubt is but one example of how lies wound others. There are many more.
Lies hurt deeply. They are like sharp winds that blow out the one bright flame so that everyone is left in total darkness--all without a choice about how to take the next step forward. How can anybody make an informed choice when they do not have facts to work with? Already, whatever they decide to do will be wrong or inadequate, simply because they jumped off the wrong premise.
Watching a seasoned liar is a scary thing. It makes me want to run away. They get to the point of being so good at it they actually believe what they're saying. They lie to themselves and believe every word they say. But if your lie-radar is good you'll still see it anyway: the too-elaborate stories, each one weaving too seamlessly into the next, the eyes that are shifting too fast because they're concocting the next lie and checking to see if you're onto them, all at the same time! Whew! What a lot of work. It takes way too much effort. It's really much easier to tell the truth!
Truth is the simplest way to go. That's why you feel so light after you've told it. You tell the truth, it's done. Lies, on the other hand, bury you deeper and deeper in muck. You lie, you have to lie again and again to protect the whole stream of lies you've already told. It is just weight upon toxic weight that you pour on yourself and release into the world. I think it is plain cruel to lie or deceive anyone, especially those you love. Unfortunately, these are the people we feel we need to lie to the most, out of the totally false excuse of protecting them from the truth. What a distorted way to love!
When the Christ entered humanity, he made us all bearers of light. In the course of our lifetime, we have forgotten what this really means. But every crisis and trauma is a chance to awaken to who we really are. We are bearers of light. Truth is light. Every lie is a stroke of darkness. That is not who we are meant to be.
The best way to change the world is to start truth-living and truth-telling every single day. Once you commit to a life of total integrity, everything false will fall away. It will be painful, sure, but the light that emerges will be worth every tear and tremor. Your life will be richer, fuller and a total expression of the Christ within.
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