Where Truth Lies
It is said that therapy’s purpose is to help us craft the stories of our lives. Perhaps it is. I went into therapy seeking answers, struggling for understanding. In the process, after a great deal of soul-searching,
I have my story. It is my Truth.
The thing is, though, my ex would tell an altogether different story. Her story...her Truth.
Where, exactly, does Truth lie?
It used to be quite fashionable, several thousand years ago, to wander alone in the desert in an act of piety and faith that promised to reveal the mightiest of Truths. Perhaps it did. I imagine the suffering pilgrim lost in a white hot cauldron, sipping droplets of water, subsisting on a few figs and dates. Maybe, in that infinite furnace, one actually can discover a burning bush, or hear the voice of the Divine. Then again, perhaps it is the fevered brain or the scorpion’s poison that burned in the night that called to you.
How is one to know where Truth lies?
Maybe it doesn’t matter.
Maybe Truth doesn’t matter. Perhaps we were meant to be dream-weavers and story-tellers. Did we not, as children, dream our world? Did we not once believe in goodness and innocence and the charms of love? Our lives, then, were just as real, our Truths every bit as powerful as those we know today. Perhaps we were meant to create our own life stories, filled with the Truths of an innocent child.
I have my story. It is my Truth.
The thing is, though, my ex would tell an altogether different story. Her story...her Truth.
Where, exactly, does Truth lie?
* * *
It used to be quite fashionable, several thousand years ago, to wander alone in the desert in an act of piety and faith that promised to reveal the mightiest of Truths. Perhaps it did. I imagine the suffering pilgrim lost in a white hot cauldron, sipping droplets of water, subsisting on a few figs and dates. Maybe, in that infinite furnace, one actually can discover a burning bush, or hear the voice of the Divine. Then again, perhaps it is the fevered brain or the scorpion’s poison that burned in the night that called to you.
How is one to know where Truth lies?
* * *
Maybe it doesn’t matter.
Maybe Truth doesn’t matter. Perhaps we were meant to be dream-weavers and story-tellers. Did we not, as children, dream our world? Did we not once believe in goodness and innocence and the charms of love? Our lives, then, were just as real, our Truths every bit as powerful as those we know today. Perhaps we were meant to create our own life stories, filled with the Truths of an innocent child.
* * *
I’m none too pleased with my personal saga as it stands today.
I’m hoping for a happy ending.
* * *
I’m none too pleased with my personal saga as it stands today.
I’m hoping for a happy ending.
* * *
posted by Jonas | 3/09/2008 05:11:00 PM
12 Comments:
I hope that for you, too.
'Beauty is truth, truth beauty' - John Keats said it in 'Ode On A Grecian Urn' and for me there is such profound wisdom in that statement. Truth is multi-faceted, multi-layered. Even when speaking truthfully are we really telling the truth about our lives? It's hard to know definitively. All I know is that the brief moments of truth I have encountered have in fact, been akin to beauty. And that's been enough to keep me going. I wish you a truthful, beautiful, happy ending.
The truth will set you free, and freedom is truth.
Only we know our own truth.
'To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as surely night does day, that thou cannot be false to any man' (Shakespeare)
My history teacher wrote the following in my leaving book many years ago, and I still recall it and reflect on it often:
'Go on and be liberated, the best is yet to be; grow old along with me'
Sometimes the freedom to live and dream is found in discovering our own truth, even if it is different from someone else's.
Truth is accumulated wisdom. And it doesn't always come cheap.
Spirits up.
I don't think there is any truth, just perception. Everyone sees a different truth. Ask a child if Santa Claus is real, and he'll tell you yes. He is telling the truth, but from a different perspective.
I heard a story a long time ago about an old man standing at a city gate and a traveler, entering the city, asked him what were the people like in town. The old man replied. "What were the people like in the town where your from?" The traveler said "They were wonderful. Everyone was friendly and courteous." The old man replied. "Well, that's what the people are like here."
A little while later, another traveler came up to the old man and asked. "What are the people like in this city?" The old man replied. "What were the people like in the town where your from?" The traveler said "They were horrible. Everyone is rude and selfish." The old man replied. "Well, that's what the people are like here."
Perception is reality, and if you don't like the reality, change your perspective. I know, easier said than done...
It doesn't surprise me that your ex's truth differs from yours. After all, perception is reality and we all perceive things differently.
Does it really matter where truth lies? Just be true to yourself and as true as you can be to those around you.
Aaaah...this one makes me smile, indeed.
I'm guessing that I live way more in a child's world than any other. I'm happy here.
In that vein...I had a flash about a really good story that goes like this:
"...and while he was none too happy with his personal saga...
He suddenly remembered he has gabillions of people in his life who truly love him and only care about today and the fun that's to come...
And while he was thinking that...he happened to turn around. He looked in the mirror and noticed a certain twinkle/sparkle in his eyes that he hadn't noticed for awhile.
And he stopped and said: Well-oh-well...b'golly and b'gosh...it's True...hahahohohehehaha: who's Truth doesn't matter! What a relief!!! It's over, life is juicy...and...I think I'm truly happy about that. I guess I'll go dancin'!"
And then Mr. Jonas lived happily ever after.
The beginning.
Your truth is your truth. Your life has been a rich one, and will continue to be so. You have been blessed with many beauties and wonders in your life. Yes, there are regrets, a lifetime of them, we all have them, we all learn from them.
Each moment of beauty, each moment of sadness, each moment filled with regret, each moment of your life, past, present, and future, is filled with your truth...which has formed the man you are...would you truly have it any other way?
As Miss Gillette stated...you now have the chance to create new truths...new beginnings. It is your choice to make a new life filled with new dreams. Your happy ending.
And, I have complete faith you will.
i too am struggling with my interpretation of my truth... i don't know when or if an answer will present itself.. or if my truth will one day become acceptable to me.. my major concern at this precise moment in time is the amount of time i am sacrificing being alive,, to delve so deeply into my truth... just my thoughts....
It lies in the EVIDENCE.
It lies in the discoveries of science.
Humans can easily "imagine" anything, because we can. But what is "truth for one" is not truth. It is simply fabicated delusions allowed by a complicated chemical/electrical process known both as "mind" and "brain"...
What mt people refer to as "spirituality" is simply the idea that we, as humans, are allowed to partake in wishful thinking for the sake of our fears...
There is no doubt that your happy ending awaits you.
Ah, I see that you are all philosophers! It comes as no surprise, given that I've come to know that you're an introspective bunch by and large.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and good wishes!
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