Well, maybe not all over, but everyone is beautiful when they smile.

Don’t you think so?

One of the most difficult results of this COVID-19 “pandemic” has been the division caused between friends and family about the refusal by some to wear the mask.

The mask that covers the face, covers the expression, covers the smile.

I have had a couple of encounters where I was rebuked fairly soundly for being so selfish. When asked why I wouldn’t comply, my response was, “I just believe it is wrong!”

We all can see what a political hotbed this pandemic has become.

I have observed many, many, many lies being told.

When found to be false, many just moved on to a different set of lies.

My question is: What are the reasons for telling a lie?

To protect myself from some painful or emotionally draining consequence of something I have (or have not) done.

To give information to make myself appear better in someone else’s eyes.

To deceive in order to gain power.

To manipulate someone into complying with my desires.

To keep from hurting someone’s feelings. ( Although, deep introspection may make this a subset of one of the other four.)

So, if I find that I have made major changes in my life because I have believed a lie, what do I do now?

Do I continue to act as I acted before, if for no other reason than, to curry the favor of those who continue to believe the lies they have been told?

Or, do I leave the lie and pursue the truth…at all costs?

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So, how could I determine who was telling me the truth?

The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Forty three years ago, I met, for real, the One who said I must be born again to be able to even see the kingdom of God.

He began to open my eyes, to teach me Truth, principles that would carry me through any and every decision that I ever had to make.

“Do not fear, for I am with you.” He began to teach me the crippling effects of fear.

“I will send the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) and He will guide you into all truth.” He started opening my ears to the “sound of His voice”, to discern between His voice and the voices of His enemies.

“Trust in Me with all your heart, and don’t rely on your own human understanding.” Trust was a difficult learning path, because the answer wasn’t always immediately available. But the act of trusting when I couldn’t see the outcome brought a genuine peace that I hadn’t had before.

I see, now, that there is a worldview that pulls me away from God.

“There is a way that seems right to a man. But that way leads to death.”

The lies have multiplied, the ones spreading the lies move from one lie to another, with never a single admission of error.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:31, 32 NIV

And being free is a better place to be.