The Truth Is

The truth is................(yes, indeed it is).

I read the following (true) statement somewhere:

"The truth is like a lion. You don't have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself."

(Not knowing if this is someone's quote or from whence it came, I can't give credit but I love it.)

Many 'why' questions come to mind surrounding the topic of TRUTH, but mostly, 'why' questions don't get answered truthfully anyway so I have decided not to ask them in this case.

How many times have you listened to an interview with a prospective elected official? How many times have you heard a question answered simply yes or no? I venture to guess the answer to my first question here is many and the answer to my second question is seldom. I feel pretty confident that, asked if he/she had cereal for breakfast the morning of the interview, the answer would be something like this "I really wanted to choose the most nutritious and from the best manufacturer (much like I do for our dogs, and of course wanting the same benefit for each and every one of my constituents), knowing that in the long run my day would definitely progress much better having made that choice, though I was unable to carry through on that based on the availability and popularity of the item I was certain would achieve the results I wanted for all those engaged in the exercise of eating breakfast. It was a decision I worked tirelessly at getting everyone involved with, from start to finish and in the end I think the choice made was the most beneficial for each of us." Did you get lost reading that dribble? I almost got lost writing it but it is so typical and one example of the evasion of truth that we get from, in this example, politicians. What is so difficult about just telling it like it is, or giving a straight from the cuff answer?

Don't mistake my position......I don't profess to be 'Miss Never-Tell-A-Lie' who has always told the 'truth' nor do I think it's my position to judge other people's reason for not telling the truth; I merely want to explore a very important topic.....'truth'. Personally I can think of times having skirted the truth when asked a question. I could say I chose to avoid the truth because I didn't want to hurt someones feelings..........Is that really a good reason and wouldn't the person be better to know the 'truth' about how I feel? I believe the answer to that question is "no, that really is not a good reason to avoid the truth and yes I think the person deserves to know the 'truth' about how I feel".  

I can 'understand' the avoidance of truth when one might be trying to spare someones feelings (even though I think truth is still the best path to walk down) but untruths are presented sometimes even when no question invited the untrue response about the circumstance..........and I must add here I also have partaken of that very situation as well (not a fact I am especially proud to admit). To illustrate; we have all I'm sure, witnessed someone telling about something that happened to them; they hurt themselves; they forgot something; they experienced difficulty sleeping the night previous; they were feeling unwell (there are many examples); when another offers comments about the same thing happening to them only more exaggerated; their injury was more severe; they forgot something more important; they had trouble sleeping for over a week; they had some illness much worse; come to discover that no such circumstance held the hand of this person at all.......it was all just a lie and an uncalled-for offer of information. Interesting. What makes us think that the words of an untruth are so much more attractive than the truth or maybe saying nothing at all?

Wanting so desperately to ask "Why" I realize that the why doesn't really matter, only in the sense that the person may want to ask it of themselves in order to correct or stop the devious words from coming forth.

It would be so refreshing to just 'accept' the words being given to us by someone without having to wonder whether they are the truth, to examine the reasons, to justify the need.......let's all strive to tell it like it is and let the words defend themselves.........in truth.......or say nothing.