Do you remember this old elementary school chant? As a kid I didn’t think through the implications of this chant. As an adult I am surmising that it is supposed to be a word picture of how uncomfortable it can be when you lie, and especially when you continue to lie. This came to my mind today as I was making excuses to myself as to why I was not getting in better physical condition. In other words I called myself out, “Liar, liar, pants on fire”. I didn’t like hearing it any better today than I did back in elementary school.

As I heard this childhood chant in my head today I was faced with this reality. I continue to be out of shape, in fact getting more out of shape, because the pain of getting in better physical condition seems greater than the pain of continuing in this out of shape condition. Notice I used the word “seems”. The reality is, the problems with being this out of shape, of which my weight is some of the problem but not all of the problem, are much greater and painful in the long run than the pains of getting in better physical shape.

So I keep lying to myself. I even tell myself that I am not really that out of shape. If I said that on the playground I would get the whole school to chant “Liar, liar, pants on fire”. That is a whopper of a lie. So why do I keep telling it to myself. A more critical question is, why do I keep embracing the lie?

My conclusion is that it is just more comfortable, albeit temporarily, to believe the lie than to do what is necessary to begin changing my condition. Can you relate?

I believe there are many things in our lives in which this scenario is true. How about spiritually? Why don’t we have a better prayer life? Or, why don’t we read our bible more? Or, why don’t we invite our neighbors to church? Or, why don’t we stand up for what we claim to believe at work or school? Or, why don’t we give more? Or, why don’t we serve others? How about in our families and relationships? Why do we allow there to be distance in a relationship with a family member or with a friend? Why …. I could go on for a while, but I imagine that you are already ahead of me at this point.

In what area of your life could we call “Liar, liar, pants on fire” on you?

Now the question is, what will I do about my revelation? Stay tuned, I may give you some updates in the near future. How about you? What will you do if you have heard “Liar, liar, pants on fire” for yourself while reading this post?

Here’s hoping that you join me and begin some changes. I think I would prefer to hear a different chant, this one is getting too painful.

Dennis