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I Am On the Path To Truth

I am on the path to truth. I have not found it yet; not in its entirety, anyway.

In my quest for the truth I have to learn to be careful of what information I process; I must consider the source; I must investigate for myself.

I must not listen to rumors nor hearsay. No matter how big a name a person has, I must not accept his or her word that a statement is true. He or she may have an agenda, that is, a personal reason to make the statement in the first place. This agenda may be political, religious, or, most likely, financial.

Sometimes, many times, these rumors hurt people. They hurt their reputations. They hurt their ability to do business, and to be respected for what they are. I would not want someone to spread false allegations about me; therefore, I must not do it to others. I must learn to give them the benefit of the doubt, and refuse to spread and encourage rumors and hearsay. I must not pass judgment unless there is documented evidence of wrongdoing. I must realize that business competitors, rivals, or enemies of any sort have a strong incentive to foment rumors that harm the reputations and personal integrity of those whose positions they seek to weaken.

I am on the path to truth. I must learn to find unbiased sources for my information, or at least train myself to listen, putting aside my own bias, to more than one point of view. I must learn not to trust sources which show prejudice toward (or against) any particular subject. I must learn to be fair.

I must avoid the “spin doctors,” the eloquent but misguided folk who fill our minds with convincing rhetoric and compartmentalized thinking which allows them to put people and situations into neat little boxes, categorizing them according to their own ideals. I must avoid the lazy, distorted way of thinking that is homophobic, racist, sexist, agist, or libelous toward any ethnic or nationalistic group. I must realize that this type of thinking is the first step toward a mob mentality. It is the first step toward the death of democracy.

I am on the path to truth. I must learn to turn aside from the assumption that “he who has the gold makes the rules”, for by adopting that stance, I am making a mockery of the true “Golden Rule”, which is Christ’s own injunction that I treat others, all others, as I would have them treat me. It is easy to believe the word of someone who has nice cars, clothing, and jewelry while the less successful, the downtrodden, the troubled and faint of heart, are ignored or even shouted down. I must learn to be blind to wealth and influence, just as the truth already is.

I am on the path to truth. In order to find it, first I must love it, value it, and regard it above my individual assets, my wealth, power, and position. I must love it even before I find it, because, if I do not esteem the truth, I will not recognize it when I find it.

“Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.’

Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’

And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom, that I should release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?’

Therefore they cried out again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas.’

Now Barabbas was a robber.”

John 18: 37-40 (NAS)

July 26, 2001

Quiz: In your opinion, who was unable to recognize the truth, Pilate or the Jewish mob seeking to crucify Jesus? Or both?