day 1071: Lying Around - Part 1: "Everybody Does It"

“I must know one thing,” the king replied, “and tell me the truth.”...

Businessweek ran a story in last week's edition titled, " - "The Lies We Tell at Work :Why dishonesty thrives at the office" by reporter Christopher Bonanos. The title page of the story looked like this:

How often have you heard this list? 

• "I really loved working with her. We didn't have any problems"
• "Yep, we're almost done with that research"
• No, I never got the message.  How weird"
• "Wow, traffic was horrible getting in"
• "It wasn't my choice. My boss made me do it"
• "Oh, that dinner was work-related"
• "I don't think I got that e-mail - maybe it's in my spam folder"
• "I can't. I have a doctor's appointment today at 5 p.m."

Every been guilty of these, or others?  Of course you have, we all have.  The article basically says, "Everybody does it". As Christopher Bonanos writes, lies are part of the workplace.  But, does that make them right?  Bonanos gives both sides of lying, but fortunately ends the article with "And our theory is that being honest is at the core of how we really want to perceive ourselves".  The article is worth reading because this reminds us that lying is rampant and that companies that allow this create a very dangerous culture.

I am sure you know where I am going with this.  Just because "everybody does it", doesn't mean that we can.  Hiding behind that "everyone does it" is as ludicrous as when he heard Lance Armstrong say to the public that he didn't see drugging as cheating because everyone else did it too.  Imagine standing in front of God and justifying being dishonest with this argument?  Ours is a greater responsibility and we simply cannot be part of the crowd that is "lying around".  Today, yes today, we each will have tens, if not multiples of that times where we can speak truth or tell a lie.  Let's today be about standing up and not "lying around".

Reference: 2 Samuel 14:8 (New Living Translation)

day 1057: The Truth Can Hurt

"Then Joshua said to Achan, 'My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.'"

Tonight on the OWN Network, Oprah Winfrey will air her interview with Lance Armstrong, who apparently will be telling us the truth for the first time in his cycling career.  The show may well garner Oprah her highest ratings since she signed off of her daily talk show (that is if anyone can find the OWN Network on their cable guide). Unfortunately for our society there won't be any shocking admissions from Armstrong, just a lot of sadness and hurt created and the world will have to decide if he will be forgiven or not. I am too sad over the whole thing.  I was one of the people who took him on his word and believed that he was different from the rest; almost super-human, a person able to push and take his body to a place no one else has been able to find. I watched all the scientific studies of how he had extraordinary VO2 uptake, lungs that could process more oxygen than anything seen before, a heart that was like a hot-rod piston that sent rich blood to screaming muscles, and a mind that could not be beaten or accept defeat, no matter the pain or weariness. But now, he is none of any of that.  Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if he hadn't compounded the lie by year after year building himself up for another victory and public grandstanding. Maybe had he not created a brand around himself that symbolized that the worst could be defeated if we bound together and contributed to find the cure of what takes so many of our loved ones from us.  Look, we all have faults and we all hurt other people and ourselves in our lives.  Companies and people all know that the truth can hurt, but those who correct their ways, take their lumps and move on can find a better path. We've seen it before and that is likely what Lance will begin to do tonight.  It is only going to be harder for him because the world watched, cheered and defended him through seven Tour de France victories and the build up of The LiveStrong Foundation. How many lessons do we need to learn? My prayer is that Armstrong feels the burden to turn this all around and become one who through contriteness, humility and concern can teach and model to others the value of the truth and the power of recognition and change.

We are all far from perfect and this is why Jesus came to save us from our own sins.  The truth that we must continue to align ourselves with is the truth that is given to us through Him. As best we can, let's be reminded that the truth should be lived out daily in all that we do. We have choices that we will make all day long and many will involve telling the truth. Let's not find ourselves on the wrong side of the choice.

Reference: Joshua 7:19 (New Living Translation)