The Fifth Bite

An old Arabic proverb says, "Lying and stealing are next door neighbors."  Con Artists, or scammers as we call them in this technologically modified era, seem to be relentlessly clawing at us from every orifice of our society.  Our phones ring perpetually with their ploys. They infest every pocket of the internet. They even squirm their way into our mailboxes. They target the sensitive and innocent, the weak and the vulnerable, and the old and exhausted. They seek to steal our identity, our money, and our peace of mind.

They don't want to capture a small portion of it either. They want it ALL!

All of the money in our savings account.

All of our retirement fund.

All of our insurance policy.

All of our children's college tuition.

The fruit of our hard work.

The nest egg we have been building so diligently upon.

The promises we have made to loved ones.

Everything! 

Unfortunately, their lies leave many people feeling foolish, empty, and ashamed.  Even, at times, incredibly desperate. I was one of them. I had invested almost everything I had saved into the promise of a laptop I needed for law school. I made the purchase through eBay, believing in the universal power of honor, integrity, and trust.  I was very, very wrong.  I blame this on one too many childhood episodes of Care Bears and Reading Rainbow.  That day I almost lost my faith in the power of the Care Bear stare.

Winston Churchill once said, "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets a chance to get its pants on."  I definitely felt as if I had been caught with my pants down!  To my utter surprise, an anonymous Good Samaritan took pity on me and sent me their gently used laptop. I was beyond grateful and utterly moved by such an act of generosity and kindness. I had almost lost my faith in humanity. My trust in the value and honor of a good old-fashioned handshake. My heart had hardened into something I didn't recognize, yet, when I received that blessing, suddenly my chest was jolted by that ray of Care Bear magic.

I was reminded of the truth of God's words in Proverbs 12:28 that, "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." 

Most of us have lived with the reality of being lied to, deceived, victimized, or manipulated in some form or fashion. Often it causes us to retreat.

To retreat from others.

To retreat from God.

And, to retreat from who we were destined to become.

We are lied to, and our joy is stolen.  Once those two neighbors are done doing their damage, it's hard to ever feel at home again. 

Yet, it can be done. You can find your joy once more. Billy Ivey says, "Misery might love company, but so does Joy. And Joy throws much better parties!"  You may have been victimized, but that doesn't mean you have to play the part of a victim. You choose the type of party you want to throw; one of pity or one of power.

Your joy isn't tied to possessions and external sources. True joy is found within you. So dig it out!  Bring it to life by finding ways to show gratitude. Count your blessings and watch your joy begin to multiply. Share that joy with someone else, and you will really begin to feel healing in your spirit. Mother Teresa said, "Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls." 

So, as you swallow this fifth bite, remember to guard your tongue. It is so powerful. God said it has the ability to give life and to take it away. Use it to spread joy and healing. If you have been the victim of someone else's trauma, know that you are not alone and that what matters most can never be taken from us. Take back your power!  Take back your joy!  I believe in you!