Knowing the truth of a story is not as easy as one might think.
Do you automatically trust the source? Is yesterday’s source of truth today’s?
Does one rely on the testimony of others? Just because someone you know accepts the authenticity of a story, should you?
What about the odd fact or point that comes from the unknown? Does one dismiss it merely because of its uncertainty?
Are political, business, and spiritual truths all equal? If not, which matter?
There are some obvious and not so obvious principles that one can apply in the chaos and uncertainty that we call life.
First, test. Test any and everything. Old guidelines still apply. You start with the obvious; “Here’s how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God.” (1 John 4.2) You validate with the way the principles show themselves in the moment.
Second, assess the impact on your path. Does the addition of this truth strengthen your journey towards what you hold closest to your heart?
Third, look for harmony with your values and priorities. Is the next truth working with what you already know to be true? Is it in conflict? The greater the harmonic, the higher the probability that it is consistent with what is already in your heart.
There are those that believe we should all follow blindly. I do not see this working on any level. We hold freedom within. It is our sacred calling to exercise this freedom. Doing this with knowledgeable intent is one of the greatest ways of realizing what we have been asked to do. This means that we will need to pursue truth with everything that we have within us. This means that we will be called to sacrifice at times when nothing makes sense. This means that we will strive for what others see as impossible.
Truth is never a burden. Truth is an opportunity to live fully.
