Ubi est Veritas?

“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.