Tuesday; February 12

          On May 1, 1960 the Russian military shot down a plane inside their airspace.  The U-2 plane was piloted by Francis Gary Powers, an American CIA pilot.  In the beginning there appears to have been some confusion about what happened, but that was soon cleared up and it became evident that our government had a problem on its hands – and a decision needed to be made:  do we acknowledge our intentions of espionage or do we develop a cover-up story?  The Eisenhower administration opted for the latter and before the incident was finally put to rest our nation would be held out for international ridicule.  In the end, it will be history that will ultimately have to decide if the political maneuvering was worth the black eye we received.
          I bring up this incident, not to discuss U. S. foreign policy or the value of spying, rather to launch into a discussion of personal trust and integrity.  Clint Hill was attached to President Eisenhower’s Secret Service detail during this time and makes an interesting observation in his book Five Presidents:  My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, “This incident, the way it was handled, was a good lesson that covering up something and lying about it, rather than acknowledging the truth of the matter, will cause more trouble than admitting wrongdoing at the outset.”.  Be assured, Agent Hill was not targeting the President whom he admired and respected, rather he was espousing a universal truth – deception doesn’t pay!  If we gain an advantage by lying do we really deserve it?  If we are found out, the deception will cause us to lose in the moment and will cast a shadow on our future dependability.
          The interactions we have with each other depend upon our ability to trust one another – and trust is heavily dependent on believability.  The New Testament warns, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” (Ephesians 4:25).   Are we doing the right things?  Are we saying the correct things?
          Think About It! 

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