"Preacher-stories"

A "Preacher-story" is a synonym for lying. Usually with good intentions. Like retelling a story in first person that happened to someone else because it's more dramatic if it happened to you. Or embellishing something. Or telling something that is fabricated as if it really happened.

I've fallen into this trap only I tell "father-stories" sometimes "grandfather-stories." Now some of these I've told so much I can't remember the truth. Basically I invent, steal and retell all sorts of things as if they happened to my father. Usually this takes the form of words of wisdom. I think them up then attribute them to dad. who has his own repertoire of words of wisdom.

Things sound more credible when you start with, "Well, as my father used to say..." or "Well my granddad used to say..."

For example, in a recent staff meeting we were talking about the budget and I said, "Well, as my father used to say about the budget, "Some men see the glass as half full, others half empty, I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be." It got a good laugh, which was nice because my dad didn't come up with that, I did. Is there gray area for dramatic effect when it comes to lying?

There seems to be a comedic blind spot for untruth, "sure you can bend the truth if it get a laugh." Many jokes contain, "Ok, so I was on this train one time and up the aisle comes..." And I guess "preacher-stories" imply that it's ok if you get a spiritual reaction.

I've known some preachers who really avoid this. Like Ken Nellar in Searcy once ended a fabricated story he had told as truth with something to the effect of, "Well, we all know that didn't really happen, but the point is..." I dunno what I'm getting at here. I guess the question is, should I feel guilty?