Being Forthright

I was just thinking about - - -

Have you reflected recently in terms of how refreshing it would be to hear someone speak in a forthright manner on any matter or issue? Wouldn't it be refreshing if someone would answer a clear and direct question with a simple "Yes!" or "No!" rather than qualifying every response to line up with a given set of talking points? How much of what one hears is met with cynicism or doubt, and the respondent is viewed as being mendacious rather than straight-forward? We are part of the “politically-correct” generation and the responses received are many times short of being “correct”!

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shared an important principle (Matthew 5:37) when He said: "Let what you say be simply Yes or No; anything more than this comes from evil.” In this passage, the subject is taking oaths and making vows. The thrust is that one must exercise special care to maintain forthrightness and not fall into the company of those who shade the truth or do not speak the truth in a timely way. There is a balance instruction that there is time to speak and a time to remain silent. However, some carry that to an extreme and seldom take a stand to make certain righteousness is upheld.

In a news column published this week, a list appears naming the 50 most influential pundits in the media. Some of them one would recognize immediately because of the frequency of appearance and diatribe. A discerning individual could almost parrot what the pundit will or won't say based upon the frequency of it being said. It is a position that is maintained and that is seldom confused by the changing data and facts. Out of a population of near 300 million people, one would think there would be others who are worthy to be heard and alternative views that could be shared.

We all know of individuals who tend to operate in the “shadows”! Some appear to be similar to Chess Players or those involved in High-Stakes Poker. They don’t want you to be able to “read them” in terms of the next move, or the cards in hand. In terms of dialog and communication, the parallel would be those who know what a right and proper action is, and privately state the correct action – but when the time comes for an open and public declaration – they are silent. My Grandmother would remind us of the danger and consequence of trying to “play both ends against the middle”!

In the areas where we are, and with the people we know, we should champion forth-rightness and straight-forward dialog and communication. We need to demand honesty and clarity. We should avoid shrugging-off the mendacious and qualifying responses. We should maintain the expectation that one will “say what is meant and mean what is said”!

You think about this with me - - -