TRUTH, HONESTY AND DISHONESTY
Part One .. Truth
A confused Roman procurator once asked a question. "What is truth?" He wasn't the first, the last or the only one to ask it. Philosophers, poets, spiritual leaders and dreamers of all kinds have pursued this question on our behalf throughout history. But the question is for each of us individually to consider and pursue. It knocks on the door of life's actual meaning. Discovering truth is at the core of why we are here. Unfortunately due to its nature it is not easily capsulized or summarized. But, here we go ...
We live in a time where truth is being trampled under the feet of a culture devoid of it. Much of what demands our attention today has no respect or concern for the larger issue of truth at all ... only it's own self-interest. And because we're in the middle of this we don't see and recognize the danger of our predicament. A culture and society that disregards and disrespects truth is going to collapse. It is inevitable and it is happening right before our eyes. This is not hyperbole.
The only remedy begins with you and me ... us, not them. We make the daily choices that actually matter personally and collectively. Truth is something that is meant to be pursued. It is like the infrastructure of the moral universe. We can reconnect with it if we respect and search for it honestly. Truth is also like the genetic moral code of life. It is discoverable. It is worth every effort made in its direction. Many generations before us knew this instinctively, but we have forgotten it. With our technical knowledge spiraling upward, our moral standing is plummeting in a free fall. Just how odd and unusual this sounds in today's environment only underscores how bad things currently are.. and how far we've fallen ...
Part 2 .. Honesty
Pursuing truth might be understood better by replacing the word "truth" for "reality". Humans are here to discover reality. What is life really about? Look around today at the attention-demanding causes and images being thrust at us constantly and one can be left confused, disillusioned and cynical ... it's understandable. That's because most all of it is not "reality" based in truth, it's propaganda driven by agendas.
Reality and truth will not be forced on you externally, it will be discovered by pursuing it internally with heart and intellect. You and I have the full capacity to do this. And all that is needed are a few very simple elements. One, the desire and intention to discover it and two ... honesty, which is sometimes a hard thing to keep hold of.
Truth is reality, and it is there, but if we are not committed to it we will find ourselves settling for something less. Honesty is the heart-check that keeps us on course. If we don't compromise our heart integrity (which is honesty) we will discover reality and truth. It's that simple.
The problem is that truth will offend us at times because it points out the non-truths we cling to. And some of these are precious to us even though they are not true. But folks ... welcome to life. This is what it's all about.
Honesty is not perfection, if it was none of us would have a chance, but it's not. Honesty is about intention ... and determination with integrity. In the larger human picture you and I matter in this regard. Whether you and I pursue reality and truth makes a difference ... truth is worth its pursuit.
Part 3 .. Dishonesty
Truth has a way of correcting, and re-aligning things to itself. History demonstrates this repeatedly. One of the more recent of these type of corrections was in September of 2001. If you were of age and aware back then you saw a dramatic and instant change from the day before and the day of and after the eleventh. The culture of self-interest was suddenly shaken into reality for a moment. It didn't last long.
In the last entry I said ..."reality and truth will not be forced on you externally, it will be discovered by pursuing it internally with heart and intellect." That's because I'm appealing to you who are looking for it and are changed by it, not the larger culture devoid of it. That culture is affected only as you and I with honesty pursue, respect and follow after truth. The larger change is a by-product of those who respect and demand the truth.
Dishonesty, which is embedded everywhere in culture today, replaces reality and truth with hidden agendas. It disregards truth altogether in favor of it's own financial, commercial and political goals. This is what we face daily. But dishonesty is not far from any of us. It takes courage and persistence to stay honest when truth and reality challenge our positions, ourselves and our comfort, which it will. But, it's for our own good, and that is what it takes at times to gain it.
In the end, it matters that you and I care about truth. It is the glue that holds together the moral universe. Finding it holds the discovery of life's true meaning. Also attaining and possessing it holds out a promise to those who do. Continue its honest pursuit and you will know the truth ... and that truth will set you free.
RRJ
Part One .. Truth
A confused Roman procurator once asked a question. "What is truth?" He wasn't the first, the last or the only one to ask it. Philosophers, poets, spiritual leaders and dreamers of all kinds have pursued this question on our behalf throughout history. But the question is for each of us individually to consider and pursue. It knocks on the door of life's actual meaning. Discovering truth is at the core of why we are here. Unfortunately due to its nature it is not easily capsulized or summarized. But, here we go ...
We live in a time where truth is being trampled under the feet of a culture devoid of it. Much of what demands our attention today has no respect or concern for the larger issue of truth at all ... only it's own self-interest. And because we're in the middle of this we don't see and recognize the danger of our predicament. A culture and society that disregards and disrespects truth is going to collapse. It is inevitable and it is happening right before our eyes. This is not hyperbole.
The only remedy begins with you and me ... us, not them. We make the daily choices that actually matter personally and collectively. Truth is something that is meant to be pursued. It is like the infrastructure of the moral universe. We can reconnect with it if we respect and search for it honestly. Truth is also like the genetic moral code of life. It is discoverable. It is worth every effort made in its direction. Many generations before us knew this instinctively, but we have forgotten it. With our technical knowledge spiraling upward, our moral standing is plummeting in a free fall. Just how odd and unusual this sounds in today's environment only underscores how bad things currently are.. and how far we've fallen ...
Part 2 .. Honesty
Pursuing truth might be understood better by replacing the word "truth" for "reality". Humans are here to discover reality. What is life really about? Look around today at the attention-demanding causes and images being thrust at us constantly and one can be left confused, disillusioned and cynical ... it's understandable. That's because most all of it is not "reality" based in truth, it's propaganda driven by agendas.
Reality and truth will not be forced on you externally, it will be discovered by pursuing it internally with heart and intellect. You and I have the full capacity to do this. And all that is needed are a few very simple elements. One, the desire and intention to discover it and two ... honesty, which is sometimes a hard thing to keep hold of.
Truth is reality, and it is there, but if we are not committed to it we will find ourselves settling for something less. Honesty is the heart-check that keeps us on course. If we don't compromise our heart integrity (which is honesty) we will discover reality and truth. It's that simple.
The problem is that truth will offend us at times because it points out the non-truths we cling to. And some of these are precious to us even though they are not true. But folks ... welcome to life. This is what it's all about.
Honesty is not perfection, if it was none of us would have a chance, but it's not. Honesty is about intention ... and determination with integrity. In the larger human picture you and I matter in this regard. Whether you and I pursue reality and truth makes a difference ... truth is worth its pursuit.
Part 3 .. Dishonesty
Truth has a way of correcting, and re-aligning things to itself. History demonstrates this repeatedly. One of the more recent of these type of corrections was in September of 2001. If you were of age and aware back then you saw a dramatic and instant change from the day before and the day of and after the eleventh. The culture of self-interest was suddenly shaken into reality for a moment. It didn't last long.
In the last entry I said ..."reality and truth will not be forced on you externally, it will be discovered by pursuing it internally with heart and intellect." That's because I'm appealing to you who are looking for it and are changed by it, not the larger culture devoid of it. That culture is affected only as you and I with honesty pursue, respect and follow after truth. The larger change is a by-product of those who respect and demand the truth.
Dishonesty, which is embedded everywhere in culture today, replaces reality and truth with hidden agendas. It disregards truth altogether in favor of it's own financial, commercial and political goals. This is what we face daily. But dishonesty is not far from any of us. It takes courage and persistence to stay honest when truth and reality challenge our positions, ourselves and our comfort, which it will. But, it's for our own good, and that is what it takes at times to gain it.
In the end, it matters that you and I care about truth. It is the glue that holds together the moral universe. Finding it holds the discovery of life's true meaning. Also attaining and possessing it holds out a promise to those who do. Continue its honest pursuit and you will know the truth ... and that truth will set you free.
RRJ
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