I Tried To Become Brutally Honest

I’ve been writing about my new life after becoming saved two years ago. I tried to be brutally honest whenever writing about things that happen to me, how I thought, and how I have changed. There are many wonderful improvements in my life, but if I am to be brutally honest; some aspects of daily work life have actually become; well let’s call them “challenging.”

There has been no shortage of awkward moments, but working in a healthcare environment with privacy issues it’s best if I use what’s called an allegory. To be honest I had to look that word up. (It means a symbolic story.) Let’s say a female co-worker near my age group (I am 68) asks me how I like her new look. She has black and white dyed hair, somewhat short tight dress, ankle boots, and enough makeup for three people. If I were going to be brutally honest I would have to answer: well, you look like an old prostitute, posing as a clown, wearing combat boots, with a skunk on your head.

Brutal Honesty Can Be Hard

Now, as a Christian I know that lying is a sin, everybody knows that. But omission of truth is also lying. (We need to tell politicians this.) The first time I got caught in this type situation, I didn’t answer. I basically ran away, then avoided the person for about a year. They must have found another job because I haven’t had to duck into a stairwell for quite a while.

I needed a better plan or my “not giving answers” and avoiding people plan would add up and I might have to wear a disguise or something. It’s kinda like, once you tell a lie you end up telling more lies to cover up the first lie. Everything I try to handle without God ends up a mess, so I finally consulted His word and found this verse:

Psalms 101:7

He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house. He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me.

That’s not what I wanted to hear. I was being deceitful which sounded worse than lying!! Still, I knew the answer would be in Gods word and here’s what I found next:

Colossians 4:6

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. I really liked that verse and it’s such great advice. So, using the same “allegory” above. Instead of being brutally honest, I could have simply answered: “you look colorful and interesting”. This would have been honest, just not brutal, right? (Yea, I know it sounds easy now)