Intoxicating Truth

I remember seeing this image a few weeks ago and had such a great feeling about it.. reminiscent of Braveheart.. yeah.. standing for truth.. death to the infidels!

Yikes! Got a bit carried away there. Maybe it is the side effect of a "No Compromise" ideology.. we tend to get carried away.. truth can be intoxicating.

When I think about this my mind wanders to something that James says in the Bible:
Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.
I love that it says that real wisdom is characterized by getting along with others. So different than the unwise ways that "truth" is sometimes presented these days. I sometimes wonder if "truth" can be a drug for some and being "right" an addiction for folks that hold a "no compromise" ideology.

All that said I have to say that I like being right. It makes me feel good to be a man of truth - a truth speaker of sorts. Alas.. truth can be such an intoxicating drug.. especially when it means that you are wrong and I am right.. I don't like it when the tables are reversed though.

When I look back on life I come to the harsh reality that I have been wrong more than I have been right. In my life: "truth" has been more relative than I want to admit - many of my child rearing "truths" failed.. some of my theological "truths" have given way to different "truths".. life has taught me that often "truth" comes when my heart is humble and I am willing to admit that I was wrong about a "truth". Getting free of the "truth" drug has been hard - "truth" can be such an intoxicant.

7 comments:

  1. what an open, honest and refreshing post. thank you for sharing today.

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  2. Well said. I too fall prey to this drug. Think I will share this on FB

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  3. there you go having to bring the bible into into it;)

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  4. Excellent post Bob...so honest. Haven't we all felt some of these same things?

    What is truth? I love what John says..."If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

    There I go....bringing the Bible into it!!

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  5. @Ed -thanks

    @jrc - does quoting The Message count?

    @Wanda - thanks.. I am learning to read the scriptures through the life and teachings of Jesus.

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  6. "Truth" is such a slippery thing. What's true today can sometimes be false tomorrow. Much of what we believe is true was taught to us and has little to do with reality. (Once upon a time it was "true" that the earth was flat. I'm too young to remember that...)

    So...I have a hard time really knowing what is "true" or isn't. I learn as I go and try desperately not to hurt anyone along the way. I like it that you said you have been wrong more than you have been right...but let's face it...you certainly felt "right" at the time.

    Thanks KB. This is a good post.

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  7. Good point Andy.. feeling right is not the same a being right.

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