[Note: this is part of our annual Guest Writer Series. Meet guest writer #8.]
What is truth? What comes to mind when you hear the word “truth”?
Or what does it really mean when someone says: “I’m just living my truth.”?
In my quest to find an answer to this question of “what is truth,” I confess that it is actually the phrase “living my truth” that has prompted my pondering. What does that phrase even mean? There is just something rather unsettling to me about it. If I am “living my truth,” doesn’t that make the meaning of the word “truth” subjective? Hear me out.
The definition of the word “subjective” is based upon or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. If every human being on the planet has “their own truth” and their own definition for the word “truth,” then it would stand to reason that the definition for the word “truth” has become subjective — thus leaving the definition of “truth” at the mercy and whim of whoever is defining it.
So, what does the dictionary have to say about truth? Webster’s defines truth as:
1. The quality or state of being true.
2. The property of being in accord with fact and reality.
The property of being in accord with fact or reality… what in the world does all of that mean?
Being in accord could also be said as to be in agreement. In short, to be in accord with fact and reality is to be in agreement with fact and reality. Therefore, if truth carries the property of being in accord, or agreement, with fact and reality, then we have to conclude that to say we are “living our truth” is to say we are really, in all honesty, just doing, or believing, whatever we want without any of it being grounded in a firm foundation of fact and reality.
For example, if truth is in accord with fact and reality, we are forced to be honest and say that women cannot be men and men cannot be women. This is one example of how current culture has become influenced by personal feelings. In this situation, truth is no longer in accord with fact and reality. Truth has become nothing more than our own opinion. This is one example of how fact and reality have been lost and our foundation is nothing more than shifting sand.
Good Ol’, reliable Webster has long since been a trusted friend of mine through the years as I have engaged in countless word studies. There is always something to be gleaned from the study of a word. However, there are times when another viewing angle needs to also be considered — which is why I took to the streets of my community and did some research of my own. I asked several different individuals the same question: what is truth?
Here is a slice of the insight I gained.
“Truth means that if you did something bad you would tell somebody.” ~ Rubie, Age 7
“Truth means that if you do something bad and someone asks you to tell the truth you tell them.” ~ Maybrie, Age 9
“Truth to me means the opposite of lies.” ~ Emma, age 10 and Alyssa, Age 17
“Truth to me is God. God is Truth. God is our foundation. So, that would have to make truth foundation.” ~ Mayci, age 7
While each of these responses carry their own measure of depth, it is the insight shared by Mayci that struck to the very quick of my soul.
Truth is foundation.
Just let that sink in and settle in your weary bones. Let that resonate deep within your soul and, if this were true, wouldn’t that make truth the very thing on which we should build our lives? Truth is that firm foundation that when our emotions are on the brink of being out of control will stand. If truth is foundation, and God is our foundation, then it could do nothing more but stand to reason that God is truth. Sometimes we adults make things far more complicated when all we really need to do is have the simple faith of a child like Mayci and remember that truth is foundation.
Respectfully…
LJS