Ed Bacon writes about Truth in his book, "8 Habits of Love - Open Your Heart, Open Your Mind".
"It is important to remember that Truth is not a set of ideas anyone can memorize or systematize and then expect to earn some sort of certificate of accomplishment. Truth cannot be fully contained in one’s mind, words, concepts, or thoughts— it is too alive, vast, and out of human control for that. Rather, Truth is a constantly unfolding series of insights, understandings, revelations, and epiphanies about ourselves and how the world works. Not only do we learn from Truth until we take our last breath, but it has the potential to galvanize change on a large scale."
"Recognize that no Truth can be entirely free of fear. My mentor, Rabbi Friedman, taught me that we may sometimes have to temporarily cut off relations with others in order to establish a healthier foundation for resuming that connection later. This can be a way of affirming that you are, in fact, open to the possibility of building a love-based relationship in the future, but to do so you must turn away from the old, destructive narrative for a while."
"At times, living with our Truth will seem risky and alienating. We may struggle and need to take a hard look at why we do what we do and why we believe what we believe. Throughout our lives, when Truth leads us to a new level of understanding and defines our lives and our values, it often informs us that we are about to be transformed by setting up some internal conflict. If you experience this struggle and confusion, remember that this conflict is never the last word. The last word is a newfound and deeply founded peace and fortification to live our lives free from fear and in the embrace of our loving selves." Ed Bacon
I believe that I used to think, that certain people had a handle on truth, and the rest of us just 'believed' them. Like for example, the church. It seemed that I gave up all my own free investigation of my own life and handed it over to the church. The church was the keeper of what is true and what is good, and I didn't have to worry, in fact, they wanted us to believe like a child. Resting in the fact, that they would take care of us.
They decided what was good and what was evil for me. I didn't get to experience life and find that out for myself. Being born into this religion you were not given the opportunity to decide for yourself...you only have this as your guidepost about life.
I looked up the word Truth. That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality: "tell me the truth".
Truth being one with reality or fact...when often times many will want to hold a truth that has no roots...but it is a 'belief'...handed down.
My life was based on the truth of the church and it wasn't until my whole life fell apart, did I realize I must be the one to discern what is true for me.
My Truth I discovered had to be grounded in reality. I would not just 'believe' but rather I looked for facts and actions...and in doing so, It led me to be the odd man out.
Most folks do not care whether their lives are rooted in truth. What they care most about are keeping old relationships and ways of life that they are comfortable with.
To live by your own authenticity and integrity will require you to stand in awkward places and oftentimes, stand alone with your truth.
It seems that humanity likes to clump together, to feel that the more people you have believing in a truth, the more truthful that truth is...but, I have read "Even if a million people believe something that is untrue, it still is untrue."
I used to find comfort in numbers and not in the truth.
Now, I get unsettled when I can't find the roots of truth. I don't like truth that has no ground to it. My mind can't believe things without roots...nor can it pretend a truth into being.
I have lived a life with truths that had no meaning and it was a very disturbing life upon waking up. Now, I would rather be disturbed while awake...and see the truth.
I believe most people believe that they are living a very truthful life, that their actions and words are all rooted in a truthful system...but very few have excavated their belief systems or questioned their lives.
And, I guess if your life is working for you, there are no reasons to begin to look deeply at why you do that which you do. Why you believe what you believe. Why you see the world as you see it. There is no need, until the world tilts and your life becomes a complicated mess.
What I do know, is that the truth was never hidden in my world, but rather my mind believed things that were not true. I acted from a point of falsehood and called it my truth.
Calling it MY Truth, didn't make it true.
After years of living a life that wasn't grounded in facts or reality, I now am a stickler for them...I want me to be at one with truth, no matter the cost.
And the cost oftentimes is quite high.
But, I would rather rest in the truth, than to live a life detached from it.
Detached from the truth is to be living a pretend life...
