Lies, Superpowers, and Willingness

Ever wish you had a superpower of some sorts? Have you wondered what life would look like if we had the power to detect when someone is lying to us? I’m not talking about the questions, “Do these pants make me look fat?” or “How’s my kale and tofu carob pudding?”

I’m talking about “big” lies.

We like to think we can tell when someone is lying to us. True, there are physical indicators such as eye contact, nervous shifting, providing too much detail, etc., but we’re lying to ourselves if we say we can spot a lie 100 percent of the time.

What about strangers who approach you and ask for money or help? Are they lying?

While shopping at Walmart one day, a well-dressed lady appearing to be in her upper 60s approached me. She was wheezing and said she needed my help. I responded by asking if she needed immediate medical attention. She breathily told me “no,” said I was the first person she had approached, that God provides, and she needed $44 to get her asthma medication; anything I can give will help.

My instant reaction: Am I being played or is this woman telling me the truth?

We all make judgements. It’s impossible not to. If we see someone on the side of the road with a handmade cardboard sign asking for change it’s easy to keep the car windows rolled up and pretend you don’t see them. But this woman was inside the store, standing in front of me. I was directly asked to respond.

My second reaction: She really might need help.

I had a very quick mental conversation with God (yes, I talk to Him anywhere, even in discount stores) where I flat out told Him, “Yes, I know, I can afford to help her.”

The woman appeared shocked when I spoke: “I’ll help you. Let’s go to the pharmacy.”

We all have the power to be human, and to respond when called.

Her eyebrows raised a full two inches when she began rambling (with no shortness of breath): “My prescription isn’t in this store, it’s at the Walgreens on the corner…my brother is there now but he doesn’t know I left...he’ll be mad…I live in Monticello...”

Quick gut check.

I offered to leave my cart and go with her to Walgreens to purchase her medication. I was being sincere. Well, she passed on that idea as if I had handed her a firecracker about to go off. Repeated that she didn’t want her brother to know…went on about this and that, then went away in a huff.

Her sudden departure was unsettling, and I was bothered by how irritated she got at me. What did I do wrong? I took another moment to have a real conversation with God in the aisle and asked Him, “Was this a test? Did I pass? I was willing to pay for her medication. I wasn’t trying to be difficult.”

I began to replay some of the conversation. If she lived in Monticello why would her prescription be here, a solid 30 miles away? How does her brother not know she left the store? It’s small, plus, it’s a considerable walk and aside from her difficulty in breathing she surely would encounter other people to ask for help first.

The pieces started falling in place: Someone in need would be grateful, not mad if you offered to go with him/her to pay for something. I believe God was revealing to me this woman wasn’t planning to use the money for her medication, but He was asking me to be willing to help if asked.

So, I put a ream of copy paper in my cart and I prayed for Walmart woman that she brings her cares to God for her needs to be met.

While we may not have the superpower of being human lie detectors, we all have the power to be human, and to respond when called.

---

Suzan E. Zan is a passionate communicator who explores life’s quirks, pains, and heartbreaks, and the beauty found in them. Learn more at www.suzanzan.com.