The Lie

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9

This will give my readers a chuckle. It begins this morning as I pop a fresh raspberry into my mouth at breakfast. Instantly I am back in time, a sharp memory and vision from the past…from that forbidden taste of fruit.

We were around age fourteen, maybe? My best friend and I are reaching bare, tanned arms through a low fence to gather raspberries to eat. We don’t carry a basket, because every one of them go directly to our mouthes…Sounds so sweet and wholesome, doesn’t it? It wasn’t.

It was dark, late at night. The fragrance of ripe fruit filled the neighborhood air…. and…it was my friend’s elderly neighbor’s house.

I was a willing participant, told by my friend that this neighbor welcomed the kids on the block to come pick his fruit. I dared to ask, why at night when we couldn’t really see the fruit very well. In my soul, I knew this didn’t sound right but I was not about to argue. The intrigue of the night adventure, the deliciousness of the fruit and the extreme fun with a likeminded friend was foremost in my conscience, not honesty and right.

Every single time I eat a raspberry, I recall this mischief. As my thoughts wander through the memory, I also see the kind elderly man in the light of day, asking us if we had seen anybody stealing his fruit.He said he was certain he had a really great crop to pick soon and it looked as though there weren’t too many left. He had a gleam of knowledge in his eyes and he watched us to see how we would respond..when we responded, ‘no, we haven’t seen anybody.” I knew our guilt was sealed in this man’s mind. He kindly said, “Well, I guess the birds got them…”

Oi, the Catholic guilt came pouring into my accused heart…I knew I’d be heading to confession on Saturday this week.

Unfortunately, this act gave birth to many more dishonest, sneaky and lawless pranks, seemingly innocent in my conscience but equally wrong.I am ashamed to say that I was the author of most of those plans, leading friends and brothers down my wayward path. The law did not apply to me, fences and signs meant nothing and the world belonged to me to do with as I pleased.

Oh my…a raspberry. Truth called out of my depths as I confess my imperfection, my penchant for the lie, my lack and search for belonging and identity.

Oh praise God, that He saw me down there with my arm through the fence and my foot over the line. He gently spoke to me and lifted me out of the mud into His arms of forgiveness, acceptance and identity. How I love this God of mine!

He calls out to us every day as choices are set before us. We all, like kids on a raspberry run, need the moments of accountability, the Hand of the Holy Spirit turning our eyes off of our selves and our own desires.

Thank You, Father God, for this sweet and hidden reminder of Your beautiful grace in my life!

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8