Every lie…
Promises freedom.
Yet quietly…
Builds a prison.
The greatest deception…
Is not what a lie tells others…
But what it slowly tells…
The liar.
PURPOSE OF A LIE
(TRUTH BE TOLD)
We all know why people lie.
To gain.
To protect.
To avoid consequences.
To impress.
To escape.
Sometimes…
It simply seems easier.
What fascinates me…
Is not the lie itself…
But what happens…
Before…
During…
And after…
It is spoken.
BEFORE THE LIE
A lie rarely begins…
With words.
It begins…
With permission.
Somewhere…
A decision is made.
“Just this once.”
“No one will know.”
“It won’t matter.”
Long before the mouth speaks…
The heart…
Has already chosen.
WORTHY NOTE
A planned lie…
Often causes more damage…
Than a spontaneous one.
Both deceive.
One simply rehearses it first.
DURING THE LIE
Watch carefully.
The face changes.
The voice changes.
The spirit changes.
Many people sense…
Something isn’t right…
Even if they cannot explain why.
Then something interesting happens.
Truth…
Gets mixed…
With deception.
Emotion…
Gets mixed…
With performance.
Confidence…
Is borrowed…
To support…
Dishonesty.
Some become very convincing.
Not everyone…
Is convinced.
AFTER THE LIE
At first…
It feels like success.
The crisis passed.
The moment survived.
Perhaps…
No one discovered it.
Victory?
Not quite.
Something precious…
Quietly left the room.
Peace.
THE HIDDEN PRICE
Every lie…
Costs something.
Not always reputation.
Not always relationships.
But always…
Integrity.
A lie asks us…
To exchange truth…
For temporary comfort.
It is…
A terrible bargain.
WORTHY NOTE
Every lie…
Promises relief.
Truth alone…
Delivers it.
YOUR NEW MASTER
One lie…
Usually asks…
For another.
Then another.
Soon…
The person…
Begins protecting…
The original lie…
Rather than protecting…
The truth.
That is how…
A prison is built.
Not with chains…
But with excuses.
THE CROSSROADS
Every one of us…
Eventually arrives here.
Continue pretending…
Or begin again.
The beautiful news…
Is this.
Truth welcomes…
Those who return.
Repentance…
Means change.
Not shame.
Not hopelessness.
Simply…
Turning around…
And walking…
Toward truth again.
WHEN INNOCENCE RETURNS
Honesty…
Has remarkable healing power.
The moment…
We stop defending…
The lie…
We begin recovering…
Ourselves.
The weight lifts.
Peace returns.
Freedom quietly follows.
THE PARASITE
Every unhealthy habit…
Feeds itself.
Lying is no different.
It always whispers…
“Just one more.”
“Only this time.”
“You’ll be fine.”
It never discusses…
The cost.
Truth does.
SHORT-TERM PAIN
Sometimes…
The truth embarrasses us.
Humiliates us.
Costs us.
But only…
For a season.
The lie avoids…
Temporary discomfort…
While creating…
Long-term suffering.
Truth may hurt today.
Lies…
Continue hurting tomorrow.
THE BETTER FOUNDATION
Honesty.
Integrity.
Transparency.
Humility.
These build…
A foundation…
No storm…
Can destroy.
FINAL THOUGHT
A lie…
May win…
A moment.
Truth…
Wins…
A lifetime.
Protect your peace.
Guard your integrity.
Tell the truth…
Even when it costs you.
The reward…
Will always…
Be greater.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
Been expecting you