- Genesis 4:9-16

that is said to be the first lie ever for humanity. why do people tell lies?

"liar, liar pants on fire" a silly little song we used to chant when we were young. dancing around the presumed guilty friend pointing fingers and snickering behing our grubby little hands. most of us have been guilty at times for not only telling "untruths", we have also been the recipient of false accusations. as a child the experience brought our idyllic world crashing down as we ran sobbing to our mother's comforting arms. although encouraged and at times threatened by our parents to never tell a lie, very few of us were guilt free growing up.

lies are sometimes classified depending on the severity of their less than humble beginnings. there is the "little white lie" which is most often used and abused. a bit of information not exactly true, a few words that become embellished as it passed from one source to another. its intentions were not meant to cause any harm to anyone's character. most times a little white lie is uttered merely for self preservation. it's partners in crime are the age old adages "i don't know" "i didn't do it". how many times as a child did we use those words to ward off any form of discipline?

there are instances when people lie to impress; attempting to move themselves to a higher position amongst their peers. disregarding the liability of their actions, if the truth becomes known they not only lose the trust of the person they lied to; their integrity is forever judged. labelled as someone who had trouble telling the truth, you become less reputable in social circles or the office setting. being caught in a lie has far reaching ramifications. realising a lie spreads like wildfire, be prepared for the liar's name to bounce like a ball; reaching people the liar has never met.

i remember my parents forever telling me as a child that it is much easier to "just tell the truth". more times than not they added "if you dont have something nice to say then dont say anything at all." growing up a little hard headed, i did not always follow their beliefs. make no mistake, the discipline came swift, but somehow it did not always stop the "little white lies" i committed in a futile attepmt to save myself.

i believe people lie for many reasons; to protect themselves first and foremost. they lie believing they present a better, more appealing image of themselves. lying to perhaps boost their self esteem. who really knows the reason people lie? besides if they revealed their reasons, would we believe them?

there are several important things i learnt way back then amongst my habitual "little white lie" escapades. the truth is not always easier to sayand during those times, say nothing at all. when we lie it will sometimes come back to haunt us sometime in out live, usually when we least expect it.

* * * * *

there upon the loom of life

are threaded all my days

some sunny gold with happiness

and some in shades of gray

sometimes i over analyse

see myself through other's eyes

sometimes i dont like what i see

but it's me, gotta let it be

mistakes are made, lessons learned

make them again, ask to be burned

i am who i am - take it or leave it

backstabbing backstabber? i really dont need it

i show myself true

not like you

lies and deceptions are not the plan

i wont apologize for being who i am

you see what you see, it's not my fault

i dont hide the true me, or lock it in a vault

feelings true and honest were built on lies

lies you wear like a disguise

you hide who you are, but i finally see

and turn away cos its not for me

emotions flood behind a gate

love so true, layered with hate

my head is in turmoil, i cant find the truth

am i so stuck on the love of youth?

that i cant trust whats offered to me

i cant take the hand offered so free?

mistakes are made, lessons learned

cant take any chance of getting burned

so i hide from the light and sit in the dark

it may not be right but i cant risk my heart

you see now what you did to me

with your lies and deceptions i didnt see

i trust the bad, mistrust the good

nothing seems to go on as it should

i cant bounce back like you expect of me

i cant ease your guilt or set your conscience free

that's not my job, you see?

i was who i am but longer am who i was

who i was, was lost. burried in disastrous love

so now i over analyse, see others through a screen in my eyes

a screen you built with threads of lies