Honestly, Does Anyone Tell the Truth Anymore?
Posted: Wednesday, June 09, 2010
by Carol Allen Anfinsen
AnfinsenArt
My curiosity got the better
of me, and I turned to the TV program: “American Greed.” During the show, I was so “creeped” out by the ruthless audacity of the perpetrators that I switched channels. How do these “cheaters,” these “greedy,” malicious people live with themselves, I wondered?
And then I remembered my first attempt at stealing as a child. I was seven years old, and I found a nickel on the floor of my friend’s house. I had been taught that it was wrong to take something that didn’t belong to you, but I put the nickel in my pocket, anyway, and went outside to play.
My friend’s front porch was several feet above the ground. As I stood there, a plan formed in my brain. If I jumped into the grass, I could drop the nickel and then pretend to find it. “Finders keepers,” right? Who would know? I jumped. I let the nickel fly. Soon after, I found it in the grass (what a surprise)!
I could hardly wait to spend it. Next door was a small neighborhood grocery. I bought a Dreamsicle; the kind with orange sherbet on the outside and creamy vanilla on the inside. After giving the owner my nickel, I left to enjoy my purchase.
The summer sun was at its hottest. By the time I got my prize unwrapped, the ice cream was melting down the stick and onto my arm. I licked, and slurped, and waited for that rush of glorious sweetness. Instead, each time my tongue lapped the creamy ice, my stomach winced as I remembered how I got my treat.
I had earned money before by doing small chores for my grandmother. At those times, the taste of the ice cream I’d purchased with money I’d earned was heavenly sweet. Today, I licked methodically, and had difficulty swallowing. At that moment, if anyone had told me “ill-gotten gains are sweet,” I’d have called them a liar. But, of course, they didn’t because nobody knew, but me.
At the time, I didn’t understand that my Lord and Savior knew. This knowledge was to come later. I will say that a burden of guilt was planted on my soul that day and stayed with me for the rest of my life. I didn’t steal anything ever again; well not really.
As a teen, I purchased a zipper for Home Economics class. It was the wrong size so I needed to exchange it. As I walked into the store, I realized I had no receipt. I was certain it was a J.C. Penny zipper, but they had so many different kinds. I decided to get what I needed and just put the wrong zipper back. After all, it wasn’t really stealing. I had paid for the original zipper.
Then a clerk came by and asked me what I was doing? I gave her a simple version of the story, but I could tell she suspected me of stealing since I had no receipt. I couldn’t blame her. Then she spied the zipper I had stuck in the mix. To her it was glaringly out of place and definitely not a J.C. Penny’s zipper. She questioned me again, but I managed to hold my ground. I squirmed my way out of a bad situation, and walked away with the exchange. I felt justified. After all, I had paid for the original zipper. It wasn’t like really stealing. So what if it wasn’t the right zipper? The clerk was just being picky, picky.
When I left the store that rotten feeling in the pit of my stomach reared up to remind me how it feels to do something even slightly wrong. That feeling kept me from doing a lot of other things in my life; even when friends excused themselves by saying, “everyone does it.” “Everyone drives faster than the speed limit; everybody cheats on their taxes; people always fudge a little when no one is looking; everyone tells those ‘little white lies.’ It makes people feel good.”
Maybe they’re right, and maybe not. On her neighborhood walk, a Christian friend found an impressive necklace studded with diamonds. She could have made an attempt to find the owner, but she didn’t. Instead, she had the necklace appraised. When she discovered its true worth -- $4,000, she kept it. Did it ever occur to her that a necklace of such value might have greater meaning for its owner?
I can’t answer that. I do know my friend could never wear the necklace in her neighborhood or around the people they socialized with in their community. She was afraid someone might recognize it. But she wore it to church (go figure), and around close family and friends. It was not my place to judge, but I often wondered: “Did she get that nasty feeling in the pit of her stomach whenever she wore it?”
Those uncomfortable feelings we get after wrongdoing are signals from God to help us change our lives and bring us closer to him. Those “promptings from the Holy Spirit” help us recognize truth from error, and right from wrong. It works well when we are responsible for our own actions and choices, but not so well when we “pass the buck” to others.
There’s a form of dishonesty today that’s gaining traction. I call it “group think:” the condition of allowing other people, gangs, groups, corporations, clubs, companies, or governments to do our dirty work for us. By allowing other people or entities to commit wrongs in our name, aren’t we just as guilty as they are?
Sometimes we call this position “being broadminded.” Sometimes we use the “everybody’s doing it” excuse to justify our choices. Sometimes we say “that’s just good business.” These answers may feel right to us, but do they set right with God?
When my children were growing up, they would change outfits like some people do opinions. If one change of clothing didn’t feel right, they’d try on another until they settled on their apparel for the day. The aftermath left a heap of clean clothes on the floor that became permanently wrinkled. Eventually, these discards ended up in the dirty clothes hamper.
When I caught onto their dirty tricks, I decided to foil the plot. After my little darlings left for school, I went into their rooms and separated the clean clothes from the “actually soiled” clothes. How? The clean clothes had to pass the “sniff test.” I think that works pretty well for choices and actions that we expect other people to do in our name. Am I voting for legislation or asking someone to do something that I wouldn’t do? If I were in charge, would I feel good about making this choice? Does it pass the “sniff test?”
When my stomach begins to churn, and I get those strange notions a female pastor describes as “stinkin’ thinkin,” I know there’s a problem. Sometimes we need more information or clarification. Sometimes we need to analyze how we really feel down deep inside. We may need more knowledge. We may need to ask questions. We may need to pray and then wait for an answer. We may need to stall our decision making.
On the other hand, if my trusted “gut” gives me the “all clear” after I’ve studied the issues, I go for it. All in favor say: “aye!”
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Thank you for the powerful article!Thank you, Kathy. Your comments are most appreciated!
Aye! Great article and to the point. When I don't listen to my gut I invariably get into trouble. Linda D.I think as females, our opinions are sometimes disregarded, especially as children. I know for years I ignored my "gut instincts" thinking I was being paranoid or judgemental. It took me many hard earned years before I realized to trust myself.
Hi Carol,
Another wonderful article. Oh, to become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit in our lives! He will lead us to all truth.
Blessings,
Mark
Aye! Stinkin' thinkin'… love it. You can't feel right when you're doin' wrong, I always say.The way I teach my granddaughter is: never lie no matter what. This covers actions, attitude and approach. If we don't lie there is no need to worry about covering our tracks, feeling good, or keeping up with our friends.All the best - MaxiI love your comments, Maxi. If you always tell the truth, you never have to worry what you said to whom, when. Whatever you said will always be the truth! Thanks so much for reading my article.
Hey Kathy, Great Article! and Thank You!, Does anyone Tell the Truth Anymore?, Well I'm not to Judge But, I'm Sure having a Tough Time Believing 90% of what I Hear These Days, lol,,, Like I have Always Said,, , Let Your Conscience be Your Guide,,, Yes That Gut Feeling, Our Concience, Makes us Think , Feel, and Know When Something is not Right, It's a Gift From GOD!,, It's GOD's Instant Messenger, One can Consider Themself Lucky and Blessed if They Get That Feeling, or Recieve That Inside Message, It is Obvious, as We can all See by What is Going on in this World Today, Their are Some Who do Not! Now is The Time, The Direction We as a Nation are Headed is Not Good at All, It's Time for Everyone To Get GOD back in Our Life, Our Schools and Our Government. Time is Running Out, SOooo Hurry!, May GOD Bless You Always, Respectfully, Tom aka RAMBO-911 MINISTRY FOR JESUS ^i^
Good article! I get those feelings when I do or say something that is not quite right and I really don't understand why other "CHRISTIANS" don't get those feelings when THEY do or say something that is not quite right. I am thankful for those gut feelings and for the conviction of the holy spirit in my life.I am honored by all of your comments, and that you took the time to read my article. Thank you!
I am honored by all of your comments, and that you took the time to read my article. Thank you!
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