The Most Common Lie

Every single day, you tell a lie.  In fact, you probably tell two lies at the same time and haven’t even thought about it.  I will go so far as to suggest that you tell these same two lies dozens of times every day and it doesn’t bother you.

The first part of the lie is a word you use every single day.  It’s the four-letter F-word. 

This is the part where you draw in an abrupt breath and cover your mouth while using all of your Puritan roots to say, “I don’t use the four-letter F-word.”

And this is the part where I say, “Yes, you do.”

I can pretty much guarantee that someone walked past you today and said, “How are you doing?”

You quickly said, “Fine, how are you?”

And they replied with the same word, “Fine.”  Then off they went, and off you went, forgetting the entire transaction.

F-I-N-E, let’s spell it out.  That’s the four-letter F-word.

You probably aren’t “Fine,” and they probably didn’t really want to hear how you really are doing.

You are both liars.

There are few worse things in this life, that we accept so readily, than missed opportunities for deeper relationship.  We hide our own pain and never stop to think that the other person might be fighting the biggest battle of their whole lives.

What might happen if we told the truth?

What if we cared enough to love our neighbor as God calls us to do? (Matthew 22:36-40)

What if we were to bear each other’s burdens as we are told to do in the Bible? (Galatians 6:2)

What if you actually stopped a moment and said, “You know, Bob, I’m not fine.  In fact, yesterday was a real struggle, but I’m working my way back today.”

What if Bob was concerned enough to stop and say, “I’m sorry to hear that, I had a rough day too, a few days back, is there anything I can do to help?” 

Why, a connection might be made.  A friendship developed.  Hope and encouragement could be given.  You might even grow a little.

It doesn’t always have to be burdens.  Maybe you are having a major life victory.  Don’t you think that you might share that and encourage others?

It is my commitment never to use the four-letter F-word.  I promise that I won’t lie to you by saying, “fine,” if I’m not, and I won’t ask you how you are doing unless I’m ready to hear what you have to say.

I invite you to make the same commitment.

So…

How are you doing?