Truth

Truth is not an easy “thing”.  It is sometimes hard to be truthful.  It can be even harder to hear the truth.  Society claims it likes, honors, and respects truth.  Yet reality tells a very different story.  People want to be accepted, often truth is the first thing sacrificed on this alter.  People want to feel good about themselves, so truth is not always received with open arms.  Deadlines must be met, relationships should be preserved, and difficult situations avoided at all cost; the price for achieving these ends is often truth.
 
It would be easy to write that I am a fan of truth.  I am, but that shouldn’t lead you to conclude that I always want to hear truth.  I wish I could say that I hold truth above all else.  Yet my behavior is far closer to the “norm” than one who stands tall, calls things for what they are, and seeks the high road in every circumstance.  I wish I were different.
 
In contrast, the God I know loves truth.  Good news or bad, truth is always honored.  In relationships with God or on the outs, truth is the starting point for good things.  Even when disaster looms, because of past actions or current choices, truth is the foundation on which Divine relationships thrive.  Yet it still isn’t easy to face truth.  Sometimes my reaction to God and truth is pure fear.  It is as if my mind is screaming – “Look, God's on his way, and from a long way off!  Smoking with anger, immense as he comes into view, words steaming from his mouth, searing, indicting words!”  (Isaiah 30.27)  I don’t want to hear, feel, or see God this close!
 
Yet when I listen through God’s words I find myself hearing two things.  I see life, myself, and my handiwork with Divine clarity.  It isn’t pretty, in fact it’s rather ugly.  Usually, if honesty wins, it stinks.  Yet God’s words don’t stop there.  I hear the second part; I’m God’s beloved.  I’m God’s child.  I’m God’s home.  So are you.