July 14: Walking in a Straight Line

It was a small lie. Something about why you were late, or what you spent, or where you were. It came out before you even thought about it. Why is that still so easy?

Proverbs says the person who walks with integrity walks securely. The one who takes crooked paths will be found out. That’s not a threat. It’s just how it works. Crooked paths are exhausting. You have to remember every story. You have to keep watching your back.

Drinking and lying usually travel together. You lied about how much. You lied about where you were. You lied to cover the lies. After a while, it became a habit that ran on its own, even when there was nothing to hide.

That habit doesn’t disappear the day you put the drink down. It’s one of the defects Step Seven is for. And like the others, you ask God to take it, and then you practice the opposite.

The opposite of lying is honesty, practiced in small things. Big honesty matters too, but small honesty is where the habit gets rebuilt. Saying, “I forgot,” instead of making up an excuse. Saying, “I don’t know,” instead of pretending. Correcting yourself out loud when you notice a small lie. “Actually, that’s not quite true. Here’s what happened.”

That last one is hard. It’s humbling. That’s the point. Each time you correct a small lie, you’re telling the old habit it doesn’t run things anymore.

There’s a reward, too. Walking in integrity means walking securely. No stories to keep straight. No fear of being found out. You can look people in the eye. Many people in recovery say this is one of the first gifts they notice. They sleep better because there’s nothing to hide.

One thing today

Watch for one small lie today. When you catch it, correct it out loud right away, even if it’s awkward. Then thank God for the chance to practice.

A prayer

God, lying is so automatic for me. I don’t want it anymore. Help me catch myself, and give me the courage to correct it. Help me walk in a straight line today. Amen.

Practicing honesty is one of the clearest ways to live out Step Seven.

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