What Is Truth?

How can we possibly answer that question today?  We have more information available to us than ever before.  It’s right at our fingertips day and night.  There is so much “stuff” out there that it reminds me of the days when I took my mom to the Mall in her wheelchair and pushed her through a department store.  The racks were so close together that she literally had to push things out of her face in order to actually see something.

We have a tendency to believe what we want to believe or what we’re comfortable with.  We read someone’s report or op-ed page and if that person agrees with us, we’re totally on-board.  We watch videos that someone we know forwards to us and buy in without knowing where the person on the video got his information.  When my husband was in the media, they would never run a story without two reliable sources.  Today the media reports rumors or relays the latest from social media.  You and I could make up anything and someone would latch on to it and pass it on.  Then, a spark turns into a fire.

A couple of stories highlight this dilemma we face.  (By the way, I’d love to be able to direct you to the stories, but as fast as they show up, they are taken down in favor of other “Breaking News”).  So, the other day I saw a headline which predicted a fall coming in the housing market.  Out of curiosity, I read the story.  It turns out it was all about how well the home improvement stores have been doing and how business is booming for the construction industry. There was nothing in the article which addressed an upcoming decline.  In fact, the builders were glowing in their comments.  Had I not taken time to read the entire thing, I could have thought a crash was forth-coming and we better all buckle up.

A second example was one my investigative reporter husband brought to my attention.  It seems a young mom, married 14 years, was appalled and upset because her children were dropped from their religious-affiliated school because she had posted some photos of herself on a – shall we say – less than upstanding website.  She claims she was suffering from a lack of self-confidence and did it to bolster her self-image.  However, in reading the entire story, it turns out she is paid (get ready!) $150,000 A MONTH for her posts.  I guess that bolster’s some people’s self-confidence (not to mention their bank accounts).

A couple of years ago while at lunch with my then 21-year old grandson, we spoke of conservative vs liberal viewpoints and the discussions that can ensue and often turn ugly.  His very profound statement has stuck with me: “Grama, I don’t talk with people about things like that because you’re never going to convince them of anything.”  How true!

In the age of mass media, we need to be constantly vigilant and frankly, not believe everything we hear or read but, rather – with some due diligence – research and verify before we assume veracity and pass anything on to others.  Our society is already divided enough.  There is plenty that’s inflammatory out there.  Best not to contribute to the problem or even get ourselves riled up over everything.

Besides, you may recall that, when Jesus was arrested and taken for trial,  Pilate asked a very key question, “What is truth?”  Sadly, for Pilate, he didn’t bother to stay long enough to hear the answer.  Let’s not make the same mistake.

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…”    (John 14:6)