Truth

In general we, at least I, hate truth.  I don’t want to know I am old and gray.  I hate understanding I do not have the strength, flexibility, and endurance I once had (decades ago).  I deny the possibility I may not think as quickly, remember as easily, and act with confidence.  In the harsh reality of a morning sun I know everything above is true, but most of the day finds me hiding from the truth. 
 
I’m not alone.  Madison Avenue promotes a wide range of products geared to helping us hide from the truth.  Society’s rules, guidelines, say that certain subjects are off limit, taboo, and unacceptable.  Even with the altruistic objective of protecting us from ourselves, the reality is that we often never know truth for what it is.
 
I wonder what a truthful society would be like.  Would we be more willing or less to be compassionate, merciful, and accepting when we were being confronted with our weaknesses, aging, and changes?  Where would the money currently being spent on hiding the truth go?  Would we invest in others or in making ourselves better? 
 
The reality of life lies in hiding behind and from the truth.  When we feel threatened, we use truth as a weapon.  When we feel depressed, we often hide from the truth.  When we want to feel good, we often ignore the truth.  Yet we claim that the truth is more important than anything else in life.
 
Our approach isn’t new.  In Jesus’ day the powerful felt threaten by his words and actions.  They arbitraged truth, trying to achieve their goal of eliminating a perceived threat.  Their words echo metaphorically as our desire to anything that is a threat to our happiness.  “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.” (John 19.7) 
 
What are the important truths of your life?  From me the principles of compassion, mercy, and love are supreme.  Everything revolves around these three, regardless of what comes my way.  Discover and practice yours today.