Job 32:21
I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.

Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

So seriously, being an American living in an international community I’ve been struck that not all cultures value flattery and political correctness the way ours does. We highly value “speaking positively” and whether or not it is actually true doesn’t matter as much as our skill at this hippy like “happy talk”. My devotions have drawn me to look for a biblical precedent for what my dad calls “blowing sunshine”. In the search I have found little support for it, but a strong theme to the contrary. Specifically Elihu in Job 32 seems to say that if he were in the habit of blowing sunshine he wouldn’t live very long… maybe you read it differently? That chapter sums this post up.

Speaking positively is important, but lets be careful not to so disproportionately exaggerate the positive that we basically end up lying. Have you ever seen some of the people that show up for American idol? They genuinely think they sing well and make a joke of themselves. Simon never ceases to be amazed at the delusions those people live in. Many are quick to point out that their friends think they are great. It is probably symptomatic of this aspect of our culture, we just want to be nice right? So tell someone something to make them smile even if it is a lie. I’ve done it, we all do it. Especially Americans.

Have you ever seen some poor guy walking around with a big hair sticking out of his ear, or something hanging from his nose? How about that guy with his fly down? Tell the poor guy to zip it up already. I remember one time a friend of mine was talking to me, but he had this one giant hair sticking out of his forehead like a unicorn horn. It was really huge. Without missing a beat I plucked it for him. He initially was a little shocked… but not long after he was trying, yet again, to woo the young lady he was interested in. I don’t think he ever did woo her, but the missing hair certainly helped his cause. How would you like others to treat you? Would you like them to notice it, ignore it, and leave you to look silly over and over?

In the church it gets exaggerated. My mom used to say, if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all. Kinda a contradiction of my dad. There is a place to be silent of course, but there are also opportunities to actually help someone. To make a difference. Does it always work? Nope. Sometimes it blows right up in your face. Especially when you “cast your pearls before swine”.

My Aussie friend was my hero the other day when he let me know about the food hanging from my mustache. A British friend mentioned that I am in the habit of speaking quite loudly when I am teaching, which probably explains why my throat gets so sore. … I kinda like that way better.

We Americans can get really bent out of shape, when we finally decide to put a hold on all of the sunshine blowing we proceed to dump every criticism we can think of back-to-back and just look plain silly. It really works much better if we just deal honestly on all occasions. Maybe just a little more?