The Truth Be Told

At some point (or points) in our lives, the opportunity arises when we're faced with a choice. It could be a small or big choice. It may be life altering. It may seem insignificant. You might even think it's no big deal and that no one would ever know or care about your decision. But, the fact is, all of us will have to make a choice.

What am I talking about? It's the opportunity to tell the truth or lie about something.

The chances are you have probably seen a television program or movie with a courtroom scene. You may have even been summoned to testify in some type of legal proceeding. Usually a person is called to step forward to an ominous looking chair situated adjacent to the judge's bench. Just prior to sitting down, however, the court clerk steps toward you

and instructs you to raise your right hand and place your left hand on the bible they're carrying. Then you either acknowledge or repeat the words of an oath just about every witness has given in a United States courtroom since the late 18th century. "Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (so help you God)?"

The tradition of requiring witnesses to swear an honesty oath likely traces back to Roman times. It was so serious that if someone was found to be intentionally lying, they were thrown off a cliff of rocks to a certain death. Suffice to say, when you testified about something, it was a very sobering, serious matter.