Being a Truth Teller

I have been called a "truth teller" by one of my t's. I tenaciously seek truth. I want to live my life by truth. I want truth in the little things, not just in the big things. I hate hearing a story about a plane that went down in Brazil and then hearing the same story...only the plane went down in Paraquay (if it is a true story). Yes, that can make me a pain in the arse and I have learned to let go of a lot of that...so as to not be annoying. *smile*

When I examine myself, I try to see everything I can see for I know that I can be deceived and I can deceive myself. My processing, when I journal, is one of boldly going from one thought to the next and seeing where it will take me. I make connections between things and uncover things and discover things. Others who have read my processing have said that they love watching the progression of thought. They understand what I am doing.

I AM stickler for details. But you know what? If I don't take care to value the truth in ALL situations, regardless of how important they are, how can I be trusted to value it at all? I think of Yeshua saying "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." I know He was talking about money there, but I truly believe that applies to all of life. Would I want to entrust my money to one who had a tendency to not be 100% truthful? Of course not! I know I don't always get it right, but I do take pains to try and make sure, to the best of my ability, that I get every detail as correctly as I can.

I have a dear friend who has insisted that it is OK to exaggerate to make a point. He is finally getting it that exaggeration is just another form of lying. Either the statement is true as it is spoken...or it is not. If it is not...it is a lie. Real truth does not NEED exaggeration! It stands on its own merit.

It annoys me when I hear people twist things and slant things so that it ends up sounding like something it is not. Ironically, I have been accused of doing that very thing! But the ones who are closest to me...the ones who see what my accusers do not...the ones who live with me and work with me...they don't see me doing that. Yes, they do see my imperfectness...of which there is much. Yes, they do see me misunderstand things at times. Yet, they also see me persist in seeking it out until I DO understand. I will wrestle with things...even hard things...until I can get to what is truth. Even so, I will bring the statements made against me to them. Perhaps, I am missing something. It is easy to be blind to our own stuff...so easy. *sigh*

I was told by one of my pastors yesterday morning that he was impressed with how I don't just hit reply and kick off a "regrettable response". I chew on it. I think on it. I pray on it. When necessary, I seek counsel on it. I don't just assume that I know best and then run with that. I dig it out.

Being a truth teller can be very hard. I did not ask to be this way. Yet, I would rather be known for this than to be known for being unreliable in what I say. Yahweh has had to give me courage to speak up, even when I am trembling with fear. So many times, after I have asked questions in a group, or pointed out things, others in the group said they were SO grateful that I did. They actually came out and said "thank you"! They shared how they were wondering the same thing...or thought the same thing, but were too timid or afraid to ask it or say it. This has happened many times.

I take the chances. I take the risk of getting hit for pointing out things that others might not want pointed out. I do this because it is the right thing to do.

Ah...the right thing to do...that could be the subject of another post...as I am wrestling right now with that very issue. But even the "right thing to do" ends up being decided upon a foundation of truth. We cannot decide the right thing if we do not work from a position of truth.