What Is The Truth

Sometimes - when it comes to what we believe - we are willing to hold onto that belief simply because we do not wish for the world as we know it to fall apart; for what would we hold in our hearts to make us feel complete, safe and loved?

We must have our imaginative stories because they are what give us hope, pleasure and reassurance that we are not alone in the Universe.

When we get right down to it, once a child is no longer a child, we would never try to maintain the idea that the Tooth Fairy is still out collecting teeth and leaving money under pillows; we would never try to convince a teenager that Santa Claus is making his way to Cleveland in a flying sleigh that is pulled by nine reindeer; we would not try to prolong the notion that the Easter Bunny is a six-foot tall jack rabbit with an Australian accent - unless, of course, we were just telling a fantastic story for our imaginations to absorb.

The same is true of other amazing stories that have survived in our human culture for centuries. And in some ways, our adult minds still crave that child-like storytelling and belief structure that makes us wonder in amazement on how such things could have ever happened. Just like when kids think that Santa and the Elves actually build toys that will be under the Christmas tree soon, only to discover one day that Santa is only a story - even a legend. And for a short time, the child's world falls apart. But for a time, nothing is more real to a child, simply because they believe it is real.

But we must ultimately realize that these beliefs we hold dear are not truths, but merely stories, for the truth would never have us kill in its name. Murder and destruction is the domain of all that is false. Truth needs no defense while falseness can offer no reason for its existence. Truth offers nothing but peace since no part of its purpose can be called into question, while all that is false elicits anger to compensate for what it cannot explain.

Still, storytelling has been built into the culture of humanity, and it is okay to know that some things in life are just stories and not real. If every single thing were real, there would be no need for imagination; and imagination fills us with wonder, proposes that there is magic in the world, and gives birth to creation. We simply have to know the difference between what is the truth and what is a story.

Here's a tip:

If any murder, destruction, conquering or separation has ever occurred under the guise of any story, then the story is false, no matter the source of the story, for the truth of any matter is self-explanatory and leaves no confusion or misinterpretation of itself behind that can lead to such travesties. Falseness masquerades as truth but is filled with incompleteness; it is this incompleteness that leads to multiple interpretations of the story, confusion, doubt, arguing, and ultimately the ousting or annihilation of those who believe otherwise.

JB Lewis