Do You Speak the Truth? - Part One

May 6, 2022

Rotary makes telling the truth our number one promise. Perhaps this is because lying plays an immense part in our lives. Who me? When we were little and someone was upset we "made up a story." The difference between reality and imagination was unclear back then. So telling a story did not seem bad, and it helped take away our guilt, and if we got good at it, delivered us from punishment! It's their fault!!

When did you learn to tell the truth? Who taught you and modeled truth-telling? Who taught you to lie? Does knowing the truth matter deeply to you?

Most importantly, what is lying? Here's my favorite definition. A lie is intentionally deceiving someone. That helps me sort out truth-telling. Mistakes, ignorance and jokes when clarified with others are not lying, but hiding, selecting, or twisting the truth is!

Before I retired I counselled couples who wanted to marry. I always gave them an "Attitude Survey." One attitude was, "It is okay to tell a little white lie to avoid causing discomfort." Would you agree? If you have a partner, how might they answer? This might open an interesting conversation! Do you tell the truth, the complete truth, and nothing but the truth in arguments, in sales pitches, in advertising, on your taxes, when thinking you may be stopped by police, in trouble with others? My mind regularly manufactures "misleading" stories when I am afraid of embarrassment, shame or guilt. Will I catch myself before I lie?

Rotarians supposedly ask ourselves "Is it the truth?" in everything we say or do. This would be a very eye-opening practice! How often have you asked yourself that question today? What have you discovered about your thoughts and practices?

Perhaps it's too much to hope that any of us will ask ourselves about our truthfulness in everything. Would a daily bedtime review of our truth telling and deception be something we would want to practice? If we believe that we do not lie to ourselves or others, we are probably fooling ourselves.

Imagine if our Rotary group earned a reputation as those people who are always telling the truth?

Author: Marsh Hudson-Knapp
Windmill