“Falsehood I hate and abhor” Psalm 119
Giovanni Bellini: “Allegory of Deceit”
Having grown up in an atmosphere of dishonesty and pretense, the product of alcoholic parents, since earliest childhood I decided two things, to always be honest, and not to care about status - oh, and there was a third - never to marry. (I never wanted to repeat the errors of my parents.) Today’s first reading reminded me of this, “Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die: Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty or riches; provide me only with the food I need; lest being full, I deny you, or being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.” -Proverbs
In my efforts to be honest I have often lacked tact. Once the owner of the company I worked for had me look at some artwork from a gentleman we both knew. He is a very good, devout man, the father of a priest. The piece he was showing us was by another very devout woman, a holy picture they hoped we would print and sell. When I looked at it I just said, “Oh, that’s nice.” Then they asked if I thought we could sell it.
I answered, “No, it is badly drawn.” I then constructively pointed out the defects, the lack of artistic merit, while going on to explain how sometimes, in our devotion, we are convinced God wants a commercial endeavor to prosper. I explained that could certainly be his will - but not at such an incomplete stage. One has to be able to market it. (And of course, one has to have talent for the enterprise.)
I always get myself in trouble for my candor - even more so when I attempt to couch it in humor - which few people understand. I just hate deceit…except when it’s jocose. (That is, when a statement is obviously absurd, ironic, or just ridiculous. I’m prone to do this in arguments or serious conversations that are going no place. I say something so ridiculous one couldn’t possibly believe it. It’s funny in a dumb way, and it breaks the tension - usually, or at least allows me to leave on a “high note” like George, from “Seinfeld.”)
Today, I ask the Lord once again, “Put falsehood and lying far from me.” And again, “Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law.”