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Theme Introduction
(For all Staff to Read!)

"Honesty"

The meaning of "honesty," what it is and isn't,  can be so slippery for children and adults alike! At this retreat we will explore why being honest is important for ourselves as individuals and as persons living in community. Historically, we know that Quakers have long been perceived as being honest in our dealings with and care for other people. What helps us to live our lives honestly today, in heart, spirit and action? And why does it matter? We could spend a week on this topic alone, but we'll try to do it justice in two days! 

Most children today are taught outright or learn through family and faith values that honesty is important. What's interesting is that "honesty," as a tenant of Quakerism, is really a secondary by-product of what comes by living a life close to the Spirit, and (perhaps) by following the teachings of any number of faith traditions. Friends literature rarely explores the singular topic of honesty, but rather steers us in an honorable direction by "speaking the truth,"  

Our three Small Groups will be:

  So that we can all at least begin with some common definition, here's what Wikipedia's Free Web-based encyclopedia says about "honesty." 

"Honesty, the quality of being honest, is a value which can be defined in multiple ways. In the context of human communication, people are generally said to be honest when they tell the truth to the best of their knowledge and do not hide what they know or think. Apart from being truthful, honesty is also generally thought to involve abstaining from unfair behavior, such as stealing or cheating on a test.

Some people think that this definition is too simplistic, or that it is specific to western culture. For example, some people think that not telling the truth is acceptable in some situations, and that persons who lie in such circumstances are not being dishonest. Examples of such situations are lying as a part of etiquette ("little white lies") or lying under grave risk of bodily harm to self or others.

Some people think that education is especially important for the promotion of honesty, because they think that it is impossible to be considered honest without acquiring some terminology with which to state truth as understood by the society. In their opinion, ignorance can itself generate dishonesty."

And yes, the horticulturists on staff will know that  "honesty" is also the name of two plants..... but we're not focusing there!

A few selections from Scripture:"

Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. Heb 13:18

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak the truth, each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. - Eph 4:25

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.  Ps 25:21

Quotes about Honesty:

A half truth is a whole lie.  ~Yiddish Proverb

Pretty much all the honest truth telling in the world is done by children.  ~Oliver Wendell

Beware of the half truth.  You may have gotten hold of the wrong half.  ~Author Unknown

A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.  ~Mark Twain

The difference between the truth and a lie weighs no more than a feather.  -Yiddish Proverb

Whether it happened so or not I do not know; but if you think about it you can see that it is true.  - Black Elk