feb 24 2006

First reading James 5:9 - 12
Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers and sisters, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord; remember it is those who had endurance that we say are the blessed ones. You have heard of the patience of Job, and understood the Lord’s purpose, realising that the Lord is kind and compassionate. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear by heaven or by the earth, or use any oaths at all. If you mean ‘yes’, you must say ‘yes’; if you mean ‘no’, say ‘no’. Otherwise you make yourselves liable to judgement.

Yes it seems to be a human weakness to want to manipulate the truth rather than simply state it. It is easy enough to say what you mean and not distort or recreate it. Say what you really mean and not what you think you should say is truly a good lesson. I fall into trying to please people sometimes and get this confused and it never works as well as simply being honest.