human response to truth

The human response to Truth or truth, whichever one refers to, is mysterious, indeed. Words of truth, perhaps the reality of the human situation and need, can cause one of several reactions.

At times when we hear something that sounds right, but challenges every understanding of practice or pattern of thinking we know, we wonder, "what do these words mean?" or "are they trustworthy?" We do not immediately disregard the words nor embrace them. Rather we ponder them and do not respond in any way. Eventually we may come to conclusions as to the relevancy of the truth, but we are convincing neither to ourselves nor to others around us as to whether the truth we hear should apply to us or not.

At other times we hear words that make us cringe. Perhaps because we recognize the truth in the words, but we don't want to admit them. We prefer our euphemisms that make truth less cutting, less pointed, more comfortable. Truth, then, becomes distorted to fit our comforts.

And, quite honestly, truth can be painful. There are times we don't want to see the reality that others see in us or in our situation. We'd rather live shrouded in the mist of life, hiding all those things that seem embarrassing. Somehow we convince ourselves that no one will understand our situation. We shrink back from the light that truth sheds.

But of course, we have all heard that truth can also be "freeing." Yes, some people, when they hear words of truth spoken in a situation of frustration or wonder, recognize it somewhere deep in their spirit and respond immediately. They embrace the truth even though there are divergent or strongly held patterns of thinking all around them. They are convinced that believing the truth of a situation and courageously taking steps to follow it can be challenging, but also freeing.

When I consider The Truth, Jesus Himself, people responded in all these same ways to Him. Some stood in wonder, with many questions and delayed conclusions. We don't know where they all ended up. Some adamantly refused to believe The Truth, for Jesus challenged every understood practice and pattern of thinking in that culture (as well as ours today!). Others hid from Jesus, feeling shame but curiosity at the same time. And still others, at the moment Jesus spoke Truth, embraced both His Words and Himself as The Way and The Life they needed.

Do we embrace both Truth and truth that speaks into our current situation? Or do we allow our scepticism or long-held, comfortable patterns of thinking and doing protect us from the truth of our human need? Maybe we believe that our long-held patters of thinking and doing somehow already embody the truth we need, and so we close ourselves off to newer revelations. It is hard for me to imagine life without the continual search for more of truth and Truth. Is it possible to ever grasp it all?

The human response to both truth and Truth is very mysterious, indeed.