Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.

Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬-‭20

We’ve all done it haven’t we? Told some sort of a lie when the truth would have been easier.

It happens in an instant. Seemingly involuntarily.

The lie just pops out. And then once it’s loose and wandering like a puppy in the street, I began to feed it—embellishing it just a little bit more.

It’s so darn cute I just can’t help it.

Now there are two stupid things out in the street just asking to get run over: me and this ridiculous puppy dog of deception that I’ve birthed and fed and am dumb enough to stand by as rush hour approaches.

In recovery we place a huge emphasis on honesty. It’s hammered home constantly that those who recover must be able to be honest with themselves and others.

We must move into the light.

It doesn’t take a genius to concede that dishonesty is a problem. But the extent of it is evidenced by the difficulty we have in drawing straight lines.

We become desensitized to small bits of dishonesty and blur the line between the truth and a lie.

It can start with ourselves; we don’t have to even involve someone else. The insidious deceit that endangers a backsliding into unreality is the cancerous thought that perhaps I can have just one drink. Just to take the edge off. Just for fun.

It’ll be for fun this time. I’ll be like normal people now. It won’t hurt anything.

The time for experimenting is long gone. Time still runs linearly in this mortal flesh.

It’s time to practice honesty and to plan peace in this life. I am free from the grip of addiction. My hope is strong now. It is rooted in experience and the assurance of living in the light with eyes wide open.

God, guard my heart from the flickering of deceit.