I am reminded of Hans Christian Andersen's story of "The Emperor's New Clothes" and of another story, "The Invisible Silk Robe" by "I don't know the author"...
But here are two examples of people pretending to see (the emperor's new clothes and king's silk robe), people pretending not to see (that there existed no robe or clothes) and/or people who were afraid of how they would be seen (only people of high standing could see the garments of these royalties).
The truth about self can be very offensive. The exposure to criticism and oft times bitter taste makes swallowing the truth very difficult. To deal with this, we sometimes pretend to see what does not exist (lie to ourself), pretend not to see what exists (lie to ourself) and/or get so caught up in how we will be seen that we pretend to be who we are not (lie to ourself).
No matter how it is dressed, there is one constant - the lie.
But there is a time to acknowledge the truth about ourselves, regardless of how difficult it may be. We have all sinned (of which lying is one), and he who claims to be without sin, tells a lie. Admit your lies, then seek to be forgiven and offer forgiveness ("Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us").
The fabric of a lie does not change the truth, and lies can be prisons. The truth however, is freedom. It may come at a price, but it is freedom from the prison that is a lie.
All too often we are our own worst enemy.
