In this political season, we are regularly exposed to "spin." Candidates manipulate truth in speeches, press releases, mailings, and commercials to paint the picture they want voters to see, making them the obvious choice you should vote for.
But the "spin" of an election year isn't anything new. It is constantly around us. In fact, it is in us.
Like Calvin, we each tell our stories in such a way that we often manipulate the truth to frame the picture in the minds of our friends, family, and listeners so that we appear better than we are. Husbands tell partial truths to their wives about how they spent their time out with the guys. Kids hem and haw to their folks about what they were doing in the privacy of their room or over at a friend's house. Neighbors photoshop their stories in order to mislead one another about what is really occurring inside the home.
We all do it to some degree. Yet when we crop the picture to our advantage, we can't be fully known. And therefore we can't be fully accepted.
That's what makes the gospel so powerful to me. God fully knows me. He sees my mess. He knows my past. No matter how much I try to manipulate the truth, He can see right through it all. And yet - He still loves me!
"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
So don't spin. Don't manipulate. Open up to those you know you can trust. Because you are already known by the One who matters most.
Calvin and Hobbes cartoon from GoComics daily comic, 9/20/12.
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