“Because I speak the
Truth.”
Weeks ago, I raised the question as to whether or
not truth actually exists—that is, whether or not we can say that truth can
exist outside the laws of mathematics and physics. And we determined there are
certain things that we know must be
true. For example, stealing is wrong. And cheating. And murder. So there is more to life than just the basic laws
of mathematics and physics. Our own gut reaction, or more specifically, our conscience tells us what’s true and
what’s not. So truth does exist—and it’s our job to spread it to the world.
But wait. Maybe we know that truth exists. But what
is it? Is it more than just mathematics or what we might call, “basic
morality?” And how can we spread it if we don’t know what it is?
What about all the truths that people espouse today?
Are any of them true? Someone asks us what we think of illegal immigration. A fundamentalist
Christian asks whether the Bible is the only source of Divine Revelation. An
atheist wonders whether it can be used as a source for any revelation. There is no
end to the variety of political, religious, and philosophical ideas. And no one
seems to know which are true and which aren’t. How can we know?
Perhaps we’re asking the wrong question. Maybe we
don’t need to know whether truth exists. Most people seem to think it does in
some capacity. Perhaps what we really need to ask is where it exists. And how to find it. After all, a chemistry
professor can’t teach chemistry if he doesn’t know anything about formulas. No more
can man teach the world about truth if he doesn’t even know what or where it
is. He has to find it first.
Okay, so where is it?
The truth about truth is that it’s not as hard to
find as people think. It’s everywhere. And we don’t have to look for it only in
obscure ideas and political philosophies. It just is.
It’s the glorious sunset that reaches across the sky
on a midsummer’s eve. It’s the green caterpillar inching forward in search of
his morning snack. The laughter of friends as they roast marshmallows around a
campfire. It’s the Bishop handing Jean Valjean the candlesticks, Steve Rogers
crashing into the ocean to save his country, Sam-wise Gamgee as he carries his
best friend up a mountain. It’s the speeches made by Martin Luther King, George
Washington’s refusal to be “king” of America, Shakespeare’s ability to convey
both wit and wisdom in his most famous revenge tragedy. It’s fuzzy socks in winter,
the exhilaration of a bike ride, the satisfaction of completing a project that
you put your heart and soul into . . . chocolate chips, your best friend’s
smile, a mother’s arms. Maybe even a man on a cross.
Truth is everywhere. It’s the thing that makes us
say: this is what life is about. This is real. This is true. This is what makes
my life worth living.
It’s not easy figuring out what’s true and what’s
not. Fortunately, there is no end to the truth around us. As long as we keep
looking. In fact . . . it may even find us first.
