There is a flashing light on my dashboard that is making me crazy.  It tells me that my tire is flat.  Hey, I could use one of those for my personality too.  But here’s the problem: my tire is not flat. 

Evidently the tire pressure sensor is malfunctioning.  The estimate to replace it is $293.28.   What? That’s about what I paid for the first three cars I ever owned at $100 each.

No way was I going to pay that!  So, what did I do?   I cut up a small piece of black duct tape and I covered up the light with it.  The tape blended in perfectly with the background.  Nice!  Now I can’t see the light and I don’t ever think about it – well except for now as I write this. 

Please do not mock me because you may have your own cover ups. 

Bill’s marriage is on the rocks, but he keeps telling himself.  Everyone has problems – we’ll be OK.” 

Milly prefers to pay the minimal amount on her credit card bill.   At this point it will take her 27 years to pay it off.  But she still uses her card like it’s a wad full of cash.

The doctor suggested hospice for him, but his daughter Anne tells herself, “Well it’s just till he gets better.”   

Most of us are pretty good at putting duct tape over the things that we cringe to confront.  This may be why David drafted Psalm 15.

In this Psalm David begins by asking “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill”  (15:1)  KJV David is essentially asking, “God what kind of person do you really enjoy?   What kind of character feels truly at home in your house? 

David answers that question with the remainder of the Psalm.  There is one phrase however, that gets me every time I read it.   Verse 2 says, “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”   Psalm 15:2 KJV

That last piece is what concerns me, “he speaks the truth in his heart.”   

Some of us have trouble speaking truth with our lips while others do not.   But not many of us have mastered the art of speaking the truth to ourselves.

This kind of person is not afraid to look at their sad circumstances and assess them correctly.  This person can look at and judge their own actions and attitudes.  He/she is not afraid of the truth but confronts it head on. 

Hiding from the truth doesn’t make it go away.  My sensor is still broken whether I can see it or not.  And should I ever unknowingly have a flat and continue to drive on it, it will cost me close to $300 to replace that tire.    

Facing the truth gives us a chance to alter our course or ease our circumstances.  We help ourselves and those around us and David says, that we delight the Lord.

However, it takes a measure of courage, and a good dose of humility to do it.

Bill feels like a failure when he thinks about his marriage.  But it won’t improve until he faces the facts and asks his wife if she might go with him for counseling.

If Milly were honest with herself and make some changes, she could be debt free in three years.

Because Anne denies the fact that her daddy is dying, she is wasting the valuable together time they still had.

But how can we identify the truth, when we have made a habit of denying it?”  

Those who are closet to me are usually very aware of the lies that I tell myself.  Knowing this, I have occassionally taken them aside and bravely asked, “What do you see in my life that I can’t?”  It’s been super helpful to me.  

Hey, why don’t you rip off that duct tape and wrestle with the truth.  It’s time

A PRAYER: Lord it is time!  Help us to see what you see, and to respond to it with your strength

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.