Block 77

Honesty

 

Diogenes of Sinope

He used to stroll about 

in full daylight with a lamp;

when asked what he was doing,

he would answer, "

I am just looking for an honest man."

Diogenes looked for a human being 

but reputedly found nothing 

but rascals and scoundrels.

I am not looking

for an honest man,

I have already found 
my honest man

and I wasn't looking.

  

What I am looking for

is honesty. 

Whenever a student

would say, "I'm sorry"

too me,

my response was always,

"Are you sorry you did it

or sorry you got caught."

It was interesting 

seeing students 

who would honestly answer

"I'm sorry I got caught."

 would always thank them,

and,

if the situation didn't

warrant more,

let it drop.

I wanted my students

to know that honesty

would get them further

than a lie.

I think it worked

with some students,

though not all.

Myself,

I like an honest person.

It seems like

there are 

too many people 

who would rather lie

than tell the truth.

Granted,

sometimes a lie is needed

for a good reason.

I can remember 

telling
 my aunt

that the doctor

said she was "hyper."

He had said she had

"hypertension"

but I knew 

if she knew that

she would become

more nervous

than she was.

And my aunt

could work herself

into a hospitalization

with her worries.

But,

I still honor honesty.

I am hoping that

it will become

more relevant

as time goes on.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for creating honest people. hank you for all of the hard work that parents do when they work at teaching their children to be honest.
 I know it is a hard skill to master, and some of us never quite get to the mastery level. So, that brings me to Thank you for keeping honesty in sight.

Amen
(1592)