Marc Estes

A typical concert piano has over 240 strings that, when tuned and tightened, create a pull of 40,000 pounds on the frame. Without the tension, there would be no beautiful music. Yet, too much exerted pressure can cause the piano to crack and will destroy its sound. The piano models a good strategy for stress. (Especially since Americans consume 20,000 pounds of aspirin a year). Balance in work, exercise, diet, recreation, worship, and relationships keeps us in harmony. Over-commitments can knock us out of tune and rob the music from our lives.

The Day America Told the Truth came out in 1991. In this work, research showed 91 percent of Americans lie routinely, while 36 percent confess to dark, important lies. Eighty-six percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent lie to friends, 73 percent to siblings, 69 percent to spouses, 81 percent lie about feelings, 43 percent concerning income, and 40 percent about sex. Psychologist Michael Lewis of Rutgers University says there are three types of lies: (1) Lies to protect feelings, such as saying a gift is nice when you actually hate it; (2) Lies to avoid punishment; and (3) Lies of self-deception. Our behavior repulses others, but we lie to ourselves and blame the rejection on something or someone else. A woman gives herself a breast exam and notices an unusual lump but tells herself everything is fine. A guy knows that he has an issue with lust but keeps his hidden secret to himself for so long that he actually has decieved himself to think everything is alright. Lewis feels these lies of self-deception may be the most frequent lies. That could explain why so many people reject the gospel. They’ve lied to themselves about their need for forgiveness and God’s requirement of commitment to Christ. In this age of obsessive lying, remember who is the “father of lies” (John 8:44), and who promised to give the “truth that shall make you free” (John 8:32). C. S. Lewis noted, “We often err either by ascribing too much or too little power to the father of lies.”

Honesty is, and will always be the best policy. Half truth is no truth at all. What this world needs is to get back to facing the facts and telling the truth so that we all might free from the delusions and secrets that bind us.

On a more humorous note, here is a funny story regarding honesty. It may not spell out the real message of today’s blog, but it sure gets you thinking!

A young boy asked his dad, “What does ‘ethics’ mean?” The father was a rather prosperous businessman and valued his son’s question, so he gave it considerable thought. After contemplation he said, “Well, you know your uncle Billy and I are in business together. Suppose a customer comes in and buys something worth $10 but mistakenly gives me a $20 bill and leaves without his change. It’s ethics if I split the extra $10 with Uncle Billy.”

We live in a time where gratefulness has become rare. Let this simple story remind you once again to be grateful! A harried waitress approached the table where a young girl was sitting by herself. She quickly asked the girl what she wanted. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” the little girl inquired. The waitress snapped, “A dollar seventy-five.” The girl looked at her fistful of change and then asked, “How much is a dish of just plain ice cream?” “One-fifty,” retorted the waitress. “Then I’ll take the plain ice cream, please,” said the young customer. The waitress returned with the bowl of ice cream but delivered it in rude silence. After the little girl finished her ice cream and left, the waitress went to clean off the table. To her shame, she found two dimes and five pennies. Her tip was the exact amount the little girl needed to get a sundae rather than just plain ice cream. In each of our lives, others have made sacrifices for our well being. May we be grateful for even the smallest gesture of kindness we receive.

The Dead Sea is appropriately named. Nothing grows or lives in it. The consistency of the water is like none other in the world. Its only outlet is evaporation, so heavily-concentrated compounds remain after the water is lifted to the sky. The potential of such a lake seems limited. To the contrary, engineers estimate that if the potash around the Dead Sea could be mixed and distributed, there would be enough fertilizer created to supply the whole surface of the earth for at least five years. Some people or situations feel like dead ends. Allow God to help you see the potential that your eyes may be missing.