Honesty

        "Honesty is a pearl that does not always shine brightly. Its luster can dim when the light shifts or even disappears. Honesty is not always measured out in full measure. It can be half there and half gone. It is truly rare for an honest person to be found. This is not to say that we are calling the majority dishonest, rather that the true meaning of honesty, the true expression of it is not always there.

        We are all impressed with patterns, patterns of behavior that have been instilled in us since childhood. We are also all impressed with patterns that are necessary to adjust and cope with the daily problems of the world. There are stresses and circumstances that cause different reactions in even the most honest of persons. This is where 'shading' comes in. A little bit of light withdrawn or not shone. What is easy for one person is difficult for another. It is easy to get caught up in a lie, a re-telling becomes too familiar, and soon the truth has shifted to something other than the original.

        We are more honest with those we trust and yet, at times, honesty is most shown among strangers. There is a dropping of a curtain, a forthrightness that is more comfortable, simply because the person is not close, or perhaps is just passing through one's life. The hardest person to be honest with is one's self. It takes insight and reflection. It also takes review. Review of one's actions, one's behavior, one's patterns. If there is an unevenness in the patterns of honesty, then there is an uneveness in the steadiness of an honest pattern. It is when we look at our inner self, the heart, the mind, the spirit and check on the honesty there, that we can get a picture of the entire pattern. Perhaps there is a weakening of that pattern in certain categories or circumstances. Perhaps there is an honesty with the outside world, but not the inner world. It really does take a review of all aspects to check on the growth of the honesty pattern.

        Honesty is sometimes painful, which is why many people shy away from it. It is so much easier to hide, to play games, to say what people want to hear. Of course honesty can be carried to extremes and then it can also be painful. Let the words drop as they may is not an approach for communicating well with other people. Tact and sensitivity should be used so that the light of honesty is not so bright that it blinds.

        Honesty with one's own spirit would seem to be easy, yet we fool ourselves and we do a lot of pretending. It is important to make sure that the cares of the outer world be set aside when speaking with spirit. It is dismantling the outer layers and the cover-ups. It is baring the soul, unafraid and with courage - in a sense, standing before self. To be honest with yourself is a gift to your self."