I only began to learn the importance of the truth when I realised the devastating effects lies have on people. Not just people either, but the environment, the community almost everything that lives and suffers greatly because of lies. My own life has been warped because I chose to subscribe to some lies. Those lies took root in my thinking, constructed a way of seeing myself in the world that made it almost impossible to ever see myself in the light of how my Creator made me.
Thanks be to God, He set me free. I am on the journey to fully embracing His truth in my words and actions. In the meantime I lately reflected on some pervasive lies that gets people into all kinds of trouble. These are are in no particular order.
1. I Can Make It On My Own
There is a great deal of kudos given to the man who did it on his own. Against all odds, he picked himself up, made himself the captain of his own destiny and succeeded on his own terms and conditions. The truth, remains, however, that we never fulfill who we are on our own. As relational beings, we can only ever make it with each other. That’s how marriages thrive, that’s how friendships prosper, that’s how families grow, that’s how communities are able to carry values on from generation to generation. We won’t get far on our own. We need each other.
2. Life Is Defined By What You Possess And Job You Have – Orr Not Have
One of the dangerous things about a lie is that it can become so convincing over time you’re not even sure if it is a lie anymore. It can be so engrained that we could say a noble sentiment and in every day life we completely contradict it. People know full well the things that you have and the job you have should not define you. They know this but you can tell by the attachment they have to both that they don’t believe it at all. Here in the West images are pumped into the society portraying people with loads of goods and a cushty job to sustain it all. As these are promoted, the very values that matter – love, peace, righteousness, justice and joy all are either swept under the carpet or compromised beyond recognition.
3. Time Heals All Wounds
To this day I have no idea why people say it as a consolation. Time itself does nothing to heal. Going somewhere over a course of time won’t deal with the necessary issues. Worse still time doesn’t necessarily heal all wounds, it can tend to make it far worse. What has tended to heal wounds is the intentional commitment to each other that overcomes all obstacles.
4. With Age Comes With Wisdom
Similar to the last one is the thought that if you’re of a certain advanced stage of life, you have the right stuff. This is patently just not true. There are plenty of foolish old people and wise young people. Sometimes this falsity is used to condone maintaining the status quo because the old guard know what’s what. It is not to detract from the wisdom that can come from the older generations. It is to say it would be wrong to think that the wisdom necessarily comes with age.
5. If They Say You’re Not Beautiful It’s Probably True
This one is particularly painful for me to recount. There were enough people in my years growing up until well into my teenage years who suggested to me I wasn’t the best looking person. Indeed I felt it was such a consensus I thought they were all right. That mentality meant people never got the best out of me because I inhibited myself to the views of a number of others. It’s not changed that much at all since then in terms of people likewise inhibiting themselves because they go along with a consensus.
6. Sticks And Stones Will Break My Bones But Words Will Never Harm Me
There is considerable power in the tongue. No need for swords or bullets, no need to make a big song and dance about it. All it requires is the right words and governments can crumble, monarchs overthrown because the words said pushed people into aggressive confrontations. Having seen so many broken hearts because of words, I am all the more wary of the sort of words that come out of my mouth.
7. Never Talk To Strangers.
This one is just baffling. Every friend I made used to be a stranger. But people were insistent that there was great danger in talking to strangers. That was just baffling. Sure be careful about people, because you never know, but not talking to them?
8. Children Should Be Seen And Not Heard
Children should respect their elders. Sure. No problem with that. The problem I have is with the thinking children have nothing to pipe up about when the ‘big people’ are talking. Children have a lot to contribute and would probably learn more if they were actively engaged in conversations, rather than kept quiet.
9. It’s Not The Winning That Matters It’s The Taking Part
What’s the point in competing if you’re not there to win?
10. The Devil Made Me Do It
Heh. The devil has a lot he will answer for in the end. bearing that mind that has given people the excuse not to take responsibility for their actions. So many things are placed at the devil’s door, which have absolutely nothing to do with him. Until we grow up and see that we have exercised our will to mess up our lives and the lives of others then we’ll perpetuate the lie and never realise two things – one, it’s not his fault and two, there is someone far greater than him that has defeated him once and for all.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 