Lies

Some lie in the face of death
Some lie about their fame
Some kneel and lie to God
Some lie about their name

Some lie in words and speeches
With every living breath
The young lie with their guitars
The old lie for a little respect...

Listening to some Elton John this morning, I gained new perspective. Not that I hadn't listened to this song before, but I had never stopped to really think about it. 

Everyone lies. Fact of life. Whether it's a little white lie that you get forgiven for at confession, or a lie about your life that you never regret telling- everyone lies. 

But, for a moment, let's think about what it is that we lie about. For me, I can pinpoint the lies I've told this year on one hand. I've lied to my parents about my test grades. I've lied about my opinion on a piece of clothing. I've lied about what I think of a certain song. And, I've lied to my sister about where money comes from. So now, where do these lies come from? Why do I speak untruths? 

The truth is, I've lied to keep my parents happy. I've lied to keep my friends happy. And I've lied to save myself from giving a ten dollar bill to a four year old. 

But these are only one person's lies, one person's reasons. Imagine the extent to which some people may lie. For some, lies may surround their entire lives. Lies may be the only thing they let other people see. To hear the truth themselves, they may be too afraid, or, for that matter, ashamed. 

So, if fear or shame or any other emotion can dictate lies, can it also dictate truth? Should it dictate truth? To me, the truth is like the dark. Innocent, and free of any instigation. The lies create the light. Thus, the absence of lies allows the truth to prevail. 

Therefore, the answer is no. Neither fear nor any other emotion or ultimatum should instigate truth. Truth should be all that is left after the reasons behind one's lies disappear. 


But what happens if those reasons never disappear? What if someone is too insecure, too afraid, too angry... What if their entire outward life is a lie? Who would know? 


Who would help?




No one. 




And we lie, lie, lie on a streetcar named desire
Oh we lie, lie, lie for that sweet bird of youth
I could be great like Tennessee Williams
If I could only hear something that sounds like the truth.