Honesty is the Best Policy

Perhaps you've heard of the twin boys in Minnesota who were at charity hockey game in Minnesota.  During one of the breaks between periods, there was a contest to see if someone could shoot a puck through a small hole from about 90 feet away.  If it could be done, the winner would received $50,000!  Nick Smith's name was called but he was too interested in going outside to play with his friends so he told his twin brother Nate to take the shot.  Nate hadn't entered the contest because he recently had a cast removed from his arm.  Nate agreed to take the shot and made it, winning $50,000 on the spot.  The next day, the boys' father told the organization who ran the contest that it wasn't Nick who took the shot.  He just wanted to be clear.  After some discernment, the company took away the $50,000 but gave the hockey league a $20,000 donation so others less fortunate could play.

I saw the boys and their father on the news today.  Were they bitter?  Did they cry foul?  No, they told the truth and were happy that other kids would have the opportunity to receive some benefit.  The boys' father wasn't trying to hide anything and wanted to show the boys that honesty is the best policy, even if it is sometimes hard.

So it is within our organizations.  Not a day goes by when there are conversations about what to do, how to do it and what to say.  I'm included.  The answer is-be honest.  Do the right thing, though it may be hard at the time.  As we know, it will be much harder to "come clean" later.  In many cases, the cover up is worse than the crime.  The same is true with being honest up front.  Lies and half truths are difficult, if not impossible to unravel the further you get away from the moment.  Over time, we tend to justify and believe the lie.  It's a slippery slope.

The Smith family has received their 15 minutes of fame but hopefully a lifetime of learning.  We should do the same.