BlogHer offers a challenge each month to blog everyday of that particular month. The acronym for this is NaBloPoMo or National Blog Posting Month.
Each month a theme is suggested which the participant can choose to follow but is not restricted to.
I like the theme of this month's challenge. It is simply called "Mask".
A writing prompt is also offered to help "get you going".
The writing prompt for the day is:
Thursday, October 4, 2012
How good are you at telling a lie?
I recall my first confession, which was the day before I made my first holy communion. I believe I was about 7 years old.
At Sunday school and from the study of the Catechism we were taught that humans are sinful by nature and each one of us has something to confess, even a little seven year old girl.
The thing that I vividly remember, is that as I was preparing for my first confession, I had to try very hard to think of things to confess. Since I couldn't think of anything, I made things up. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. I lied 6 times, and I disobeyed my parents 5 times.”
Oh, yeah, we also had to confess to the number of times we committed the said sin.
I’m pretty sure I lied about lying or at least about the number of times I lied.
I often wondered how the priest could have listened to my not so quiet whispered "confession" without cracking up.
While I no longer consider myself to be a proponent of any specific religion, and I can’t and don’t subscribe to the belief that humans are naturally sinful, I am pretty sure that we all have told lies during our lives. I confess, I have.
I am probably decent at telling a "little white lie" (or in Catholic terms a venial lie) especially if it keeps me from hurting someone's feelings.
Basically, I honestly believe that it is the best policy, honesty that is. Although I don't participate in a weekly congregational get together of any formal type, I do try to consciously follow the teachings of what I believe to be the one true religion. That is the "Church of the Golden Rule".
My, my,
And the world would be a better place
You just wait and see.
The one person I can never fool and the one who can always see right through to my heart is that little seven year old girl, for she is still with me all of the time.
No, I can never get away with lying to her.
Anyway, truthfully, I am not very good at telling the bigger lies (or in Catholic terms the mortal lies) though, simply and especially because I am a blusher.
Urgh, I hate that I do that!
I have created a page for Anna's Diary. It can be found under the Tab titled Anna's Diary.
I have posted all of the entries to date there, starting with January 1, 1929.
Here is today's entry from Anna's diary:
Sat. October 5, 1929
Met Jean and Edythe for lunch. Do not fee well. Pains in my stomach all day with dysentery.
Saw "Black Birds" with Helen Carr. All colored review [interesting]. Went for sandwich at sparks.
Ha! I was that seven year old kid in the confessional too - always felt terrible, dragging through all the possibilities. For me, it wasn't lying -my "go to" sin was anger. "Bless me, Father, for I have sineed. I was angry at my brothers four times and I was angry at my mom five times."
ReplyDeleteReally? Yes really - anger was a SIN - even if I just felt it and didn't act on it in any way.
I'm not a good liar - though I can pull it off - generally when trying to get out of a social engagement. I never want to say, "I can't be there b/c I just want to stay home alone.". Nope. I always have to come up with some acceptable excuse.
I did a little research on the Catholic Catechism for the post. It is pretty interesting to me how seemingly arbitrary the "rules" and consequences of not following said rules are. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeletelike you, i try to follow the "do unto others" rule of not being honest if it will hurt someone. i do try not to lie to myself! {smile}
ReplyDelete♥
Hi, Dani,
DeleteTo sooth and comfort, a little self indulgence is warranted sometimes, don’t you agree?
I remember the first time I went to confession and I told the priest I fight with my sisters. He said "do you box?" and in my very solemn state I said "NO!"
ReplyDelete