No that title doesn’t mean I’m not trying to conjugate. Just thinking of different ways to say the same word.
Last night my psychiatrist friend, Dr. Charles Hayden, was talking with me about a mutual friend, Rick Reynolds, who does extremely effective workshops for affair recovery. Rick is a neat guy, friendly as a new puppy, who is also one of the smartest people I know. As Charles and I discussed Rick last night, he told me about one of Rick’s strong beliefs when it comes to helping people. I cannot quote Rick exactly because I haven’t heard it firsthand, but basically it is, “I can’t help a liar.”
If ever a truth has been spoken, this is one of the big ones.
As Dr. House on the popular TV show “House” says nearly every week, “Everyone lies.” Maybe you’ve been around long enough to know the validity of that line in the script. Put any person, no matter how wonderful, godly, aged, wise, vulnerable, whatever, in the right situation and s/he will lie. Why? Bill Harley divides it into three categories: 1) Protective Liars (I don’t want you to be hurt); 2) Get Out of Trouble Liars (Uh-oh, I gotta protect myself on this one); and 3) Born Liars. Hmm, maybe he has a different phrase for that last one but that is pretty well the idea.
Back to the point at hand! People sometimes lie. However, as long as they lie, it is impossible to help them with whatever problem they face. Many times over the years I’ve gone one direction in trying to help someone because I believed what they said, only to discover that I wasted time and energy chasing a red herring. I don’t know how anyone could think that any help sought will have value if the helper doesn’t understand the true nature of the situation and problem. It just doesn’t happen.
Jesus said the truth sets you free. That’s right. Always has been right; always will be right. Therefore, the next time you wish someone to help you with anything, tell the truth! Respect the helper. Respect yourself. Deal with the core and not a fabricated outlier.