(This entry started out as a rant—a collection of raging observations about truth-under-attack and the triumph of liars. After considering the various rabbit trails of angry content, I realized that I was jousting with windmills and heading towards foolishness. So instead, I present to you a simpler set of observations about seeking truth.)
Truth’s reassuring reach enters into every aspect of the human condition, individually and collectively. With truth comes trust. Truth prospers alongside trust. That’s why it’s important for me to assess regularly my own relationships with truth, my own truth-proclaiming behaviors.
One necessary task is to evaluate all information that comes my way, checking its veracity and/or usefulness. Even though I may be overloaded with disinformation, it’s still my responsibility to verify thoroughly that what I’m encountering and seeking is truly true truth!
To do this, I can rely on my intuitive sense of what’s logical, what fits my general sense of reality and the scope of my hopes for a well-ordered, purposeful life. Some of that intuition comes from being acculturated within the truth-telling protection of my faith community. Some of it from my family of origin. All of it meshing with tangible, measurable facts.
Besides finding truth, I must shoulder another truth-reinforcing responsibility: Being “truth” in my relationships and actions. Showing myself trustworthy, reliable and objective. Gathering ample information before forming opinions. Sharing my discoveries and opinions carefully and caringly. Asking hard questions. Listening carefully to find other truth-tellers. Calling out lying and liars as I encounter them.
If I stick to these attributes and tasks, I become part of an assembly of like-minded people around the world—each of us a truth-bearer. Together we can work to strengthen truth and defeat prevarication. Together we can know the truth that makes us free!
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