Tip of My Iceberg

He’d had about 36 hours to recuperate. A tonsillectomy isn’t a walk in the park when you’re three. It’s a little overwhelming, more than a little concerning, and the immediate effect is feeling miserable.

An ice cream cone and a little time can bring a totally new attitude to a young man fresh from surgery. Which was wonderful, because Nolan right after surgery wasn’t anything like the Nolan we know.

Nolan’s family has a history of tonsil removal. His sister, brother and parents had the surgery before him. Our daughter, his mother, actually had to have surgery twice. The first time, when she was two, they said they were removing her adenoids, which typically happens when you have a tonsillectomy.

What we discovered three years later, when her snoring became unbearable for her sisters sharing her room, was that neither tonsils nor adenoids had been removed. We’re still not sure what happened, but Tiffany finally had her tonsils out when she was five.

It’s fascinating how we jump to conclusions when we think something has happened. It’s easy to take for granted what someone–or some source–says is true. Especially if it’s in print or someone who’s expected to be trustworthy.

Imagine how surprised I was when I discovered Tiffany’s adenoids had never been removed. I took her to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. We’d been back and forth to doctors with ear infections and sore throats. When he looked at her throat and told me she needed to have her tonsils and adenoids out, I was surprised.

“She already had her adenoids out.”

He looked at me quizzically. “Are you sure? Because if that had happened, her tonsils should have come out as well. And she has enlarged tonsils that need to be removed.”

It’s pretty sad when you can’t believe a doctor. They typically are individuals of authority who should be able to be trusted.

What about those people we know little to nothing about? Are people in general trustworthy? Or do many people tell you what they think you want to hear? Or tell you enough to get you to believe what they have to sell?

The problem today is people believe whatever they read online or what some influencer says. Credibility isn’t the value–whatever is spicy enough to share with others or questionable enough to keep the rumor mill going is all that is needed for information to become viral.

Why are lies so easy to believe? Why don’t we more willingly question the sources of what we’ve been told?

It’s easier to follow the crowd than to strike out on our own to discover the truth.

Jesus understood the complexity of lies, for the religious leaders of His day lied about Him constantly. He also tried to explain to the people that Satan, the enemy of all who love Jesus, is a liar, seeking to deregulate all who seek hope and help in Him.

Those religious leaders and others who didn’t believe Jesus continually argued with Him about the truth He shared. They didn’t want to listen to Him. Jesus called such unbelievers children of their father the devil.

“He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 844:b

When the people were confronted with the truth Jesus spoke to them, they struggled to believe it because it contradicted the religious leaders. People they believed they could trust. The religious leaders, however, were looking out for themselves and protecting their way of life. Jesus spoke to them of the identity of God, a fact Paul reemphasized later.

“So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are UNCHANGEABLE becaue it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie.” Hebrews 6:18a

God can’t lie. It’s not in His nature. He is trustworthy, for He does everything He has said He will do.

The challenge is to believe Him.

What’s holding you back from His truth?