Sentinel Watch July 11, 2011 Issue

Honest to God!

Jeremy Carper

One often hears the expression, “Honest to God!” It is often used in gossip, when somebody shares a juicy tidbit, as in, “Honest to God, you won’t believe what she (or he) did next,” followed by a recital of someone else’s wrongdoings. As several recent high-profile cases in the news indicate, there’s a fascination with the misdoings of others, including public figures, on Twitter and other social media. Sometimes it seems as though the media and others delight in trashing an individual, eagerly pointing out his or her faults.

As I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that there could be a better way than focusing on people’s failings—one that supports healing instead of the gossipy repetition of slander. So I asked myself, “What does it mean for me to be honest to God?” 

I realized that it means keeping firmly in thought who I am as the child of God, totally spiritual—and to the best of my ability, recognizing that this spiritual outlook applies to other people also.