LYING 6-16-17

REFLECTIONS ON FAITH FOR THE YEARS OF WINTER

LYING   6-16-17

Save me, O God, from lying

Except when it is to my advantage

To lie

After all, everybody does it

Niece Kira has even written

A book that says so

Half of what we lie about

Assuming I am not lying about it

Is in hope

To make us appear better

Than we are

The other half is in fear

So we can avoid angry faces

And angry voices

And jail

So help me, O Lord,

To accept myself as I am

So that I do not have to appear

Better than real

And help me to acquire

The virtue of courage

Surely with courage

I shall not be afraid

For someone has said that without

Courage, no other virtue

Is possible

And that does not sound like a lie

Then in acceptance and courage

I shall have no need to lie

Except, perhaps, in poems

JRMcF

johnrobertmcfarland@gmail.com

Kira Vermond, the daughter of my little sister Margey, is Canada’s leading non-fiction writer for travel, finance, and kids. The book for children mentioned above is Half-Truths and Brazen Lies: An Honest Look at Lying