Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLVIII

I'm sorry about telling that big lie. Now I realize that an apology with excuses is really not an apology at all, but please hear me out. Yes, it's true that I lied, but, I promise I didn't mean to do it. When I said what I did, I sincerely meant every word of it. Will it help if I remind you of all the other times you've heard the same statement I made come from other people? Were those other people speaking the truth? Maybe....maybe not. As a matter of fact, come to think of it, I've heard you make the same identical statement more than once. Were you being truthful? That's something that only you and God can answer.

That leads me to ask this question: Is it really lying if when I say it, it is actually meant as the truth, even though it didn't turn out that way? Let me ask the same question this way: If I make a false statement, but when I say it, I think it is true, am I still lying? I'm not totally sure how to answer that, but I can say that a false statement is a false statement...and when the truth is finally revealed, it looks bad on the person who has said something that was not the truth, regardless of his intent. Does it make any difference when we consider the fact that, like I was saying, I'm just one of many people, including you, who have made the same statement a number of times? Or does it matter that this "big lie" is primarily told by Christians? In fact, this may be the biggest lie that Christians tell. It goes without saying that something has to be done to get this situation under control and get this egregious error corrected. I promise to do my part.

When I make that promise, it doesn't mean I'm going to stop making the statement that I had made...I just have to make sure it's the truth when I do say it. I know by now you're beginning to get just a little curious about exactly what it was that I said (or that we said), and I'm going to tell you what it is, but I've said it so many times in so many different ways, that I'm not sure just how to quote it. Here's just one example: I was talking to someone who was going through a difficult time in his life and I said, "I'll keep you in my prayers." I've also said, "I'll be praying about that," or "I'll help you pray over that situation," etc. However I said it, way too many times, I walked away and never thought about it again. Now, do you remember when you've been guilty of the same offense? I had been thinking about this same subject a couple years ago when I received a text from a good friend who was asking me to pray for her nephew, so when I saw it, I pulled over and stopped my car right then, closed my eyes, and said a prayer for that situation. I did the same thing recently when I got word that that the daughter of a friend had just found out that she had cancer. When my kids have asked me to help them pray about circumstances in their lives, I don't think I've ever failed to do so. I'm just afraid that I can't say the same thing when I've made that promise to more casual acquaintances, but I'm doing my best to correct that.

I think what I need to do is, when I make that promise, fulfill it immediately. Otherwise I may forget. It's a situation I sincerely want to correct, and with God's help, I'll fix it. It's something I'm gonna be praying about.

Preston