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HONESTY

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You’ve probably hear that word honesty. You were struck by it, maybe not. You probably heard that honesty is the best policy. I think it is too. Those who live that policy have actually seen its benefits and those who loathe it have suffered its devastating consequences.
                It’s important to note that the decisions and choices we make as individuals affect the people around us, our generation and even the unborn generation. The choice to be honest or dishonest is not an exception when it comes to this fact. Take for example the choice to cheat in an examination. We might not see the long term consequence of this choice. Maybe we thought, “The worst is that I’d be expelled, or my answer sheet ceased”, or maybe we thought “the most important thing right now is to pass”. Alas, the choice to be dishonest has presented the world with quack doctors, fake engineers, thieves in the bank and in government, corrupt leaders (both political and religious). And we wonder why people suffer and die on a daily basis.
                I once read a book that asked “how would you feel if you were told that the bridge you are about to cross was built by an engineer with a fake certificate?” I believe your answer would be to look for the next flight to your destination. But I now ask you, “what if the pilot of that plane doesn’t really know how to fly the plane?” Again, you’d rather walk to your destination than put your life at risk. But putting our lives at risk is what we do every day. The fact is, we don’t know who is honest and who is not, the least we can do is be honest. When buildings collapse, or bridges fall, or businesses fail, or people die, as a result of dishonest practices of one form or the other, the innocent and the guilty suffer alike. But it all comes down to you. God has been merciful, but you and I need to change, we need to start being honest in every area of life.
                Wouldn’t it be wonderful if husband and wife were honest with each other? Or if leaders were honest with followers and citizens? Or if lecturers were honest and students were honest as well? If only we could see the long term effect (the bigger picture) maybe we would do the right thing. Dishonesty has caused a lot of problems in our lives today, and as you read this, it is killing someone out there.
                “How do we stop this?” you might ask. The good news is you can start being different. Dishonest people are often selfish people, they think only of themselves and what they hope to gain. But you can be different, you can live life truthfully, having nothing to hide or be ashamed of. You can still say “I’d pass this exam honestly or fail honorably”, you can still say “now that I am in this position, I’d keep my promises to this people”, you can still say “I know I’ve not been faithful to you, but I promise to be the best husband/wife I can possibly be to you”, you can still say “no amount to money can keep me from doing the right thing or make me do what is wrong”, you can still say “no amount of money can make me tell a lie or keep my mouth shut when I see something wrong”.
                The choice to be honest or dishonest is yours, but the consequences of that choice are borne by everyone. Remember that the next time you want to take a decision….
                                                                                                                                                                               To be continued.
 

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