Honesty and deception.

I seem to remember reading or hearing a conversation that went something like this...

One man says, "I wish I did not have to live to see such a time." and the other responds, "so do all to whom such times come."

This is something that happens a lot.
There is a Chinese curse which states "May you live in interesting times."

Life is not easy but we seem to enjoy making it harder than it has to be.

Many people throughout the past have pointed out that people who wish to deceive use "honeyed words" they speak in such a way that people like to listen to them and believe what they say.

This is the trap that Theoden, in the "Lord of the Rings," fell into. This is the trap that allowed his son to die.

Theoden didn't want to hear about war and danger. He didn't want to face reality! so he listened to Wormtongue and he paid the price for it.

He also refused to listen to the Counsel of Gandalf and much evil came of it.

Grima Wormtongue only wanted to receive ill gotten gains but he spoke the things Theoden WANTED to hear. Gandalf wanted righteousness and Justice to prevail so he spoke the truth. He was "plainspoken".

He told the truth even though it might hurt a little! because the little hurt was NOTHING compared to the result of lies told by others.

I think there is a very important lesson to learn here. Sometimes people will talk to us about things we do not wish to hear. They will tell us how much we have messed up or whatever.
But they really have our best interests at heart.
Others will tell us what we want to hear and we think they are the ones who are really loving but in the end we will hurt more than ever because of them.

I ask you all to keep this in mind. someday you too will be approached by someone who wants something from you.

They might sound good and they might say what you want to hear but they are your enemy.