"If you knew that you could die today and you saw the face of God and love, would you change? Would you change?" Change, Tracy Chapman
I have lived the vast majority of my life resisting change. I think we all do at times. Change invariably yields a host of emotions I avoid at all costs. I tend to like my routine and its safe and pleasant meandering path to the known. I am familiar with the routine and where it leads. The path, pioneered, the journey, recognizable, I find safe-haven in experiences that are calculated, moments that are predictable, and life that is comfortably floating, if not on a breeze, then perhaps a trade wind.
Recently, however, I have begun to see my pleasant routine as a well-honed rut. Isn't it interesting how the connotations for rut and routine are divergently different yet mean precisely the same when applied similarly in the English language? While I can travel in my rut much the same as I can travel in my routine, I am beginning to see that those of us resistant to change will inadvertently find our pathways etched in moments of change. At that point, a decision must be made; steadfastly resist the urge to change or go with the flow. Life has convinced me that the latter is the better option.
I have been blessed with a wife that flutters with a youth-like exuberance when facing change. She is the type of individual that could pickup at a moments notice to visit a relative many hours away without once becoming concerned with the details; details that would bog me down for hours. I envy this attribute and secretly try to emulate it. She is utterly void of calculated routine and her chemistry allows for this characteristic. Mine, unfortunately, does not. The best I can do is embrace a philosophy of welcoming change, hitch my wagon to that idea, and ride out into a sunset unknown. I will do so knowing that my life will change and that change will present me with wonderful experiences; many of which I would have passed on if given the opportunity.
Our inner change is most certainly our vessel to resounding growth, yet often, we need our Captain to set the course. Just a thought.
"If you knew that you could find a truth that brings a pain that can't be soothed,would you change? Would you change?" Change, Tracy Chapman
Friday, February 29, 2008
What is the Truth?
Lately, I have toyed with the simple notion of the truth and how it is applied in modern society. The dictionary defines the word truth, in part, as a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, or principle. This definition lends itself to a mathematical connotation…as one might say two plus two is four…the answer being then an undisputable and irrevocable fact. Another definition of the word truth, however, is an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude, which is quite different from the first definition and why I have chosen this topic for my latest blog. I'll explain.
We throw around the word truth as if everyone fully understands its meaning. In most cases, the truth we desire is yielded from the first definition I referenced. Your children may tell you the truth when asked about a situation, and if they do not, then they have lied. Witnesses in a court of law swear to tell the truth, and if they are found to be misrepresenting the facts, then they have perjured themselves. These are instances of undisputable facts that are verified as true and exist without further appraisal.
Once we delve into the second definition of truth, the waters muddy almost immediately. If truth exists as what is true, then how can the truth be associated with an accepted fact? The truth is…it can't.
We see this definition of truth applied much too often in society today. What people readily believe as true becomes true with little added thought or experimentation. Politicians have used this premise in the past to gain favor with the electorate on myriad platforms. The most noticeable example available today is global warming. We have been told that global warming is an undeniable reality from numerous sources, and yet no verified or indisputable facts exist to support this claim. Whether or not I believe global warming exists is irrelevant when making an assertion that it does or does not. What we do have is numerous politically inspired people trying to sway public opinion, usually for monetary gain, by passing off an opinion as the truth; i.e.: Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." If there is money to be made, controlling public opinion then becomes the simple truth and the masses inevitably succumb hook, line, and sinker.
Global warming is just one example of how the truth is manufactured in modern day politicking. The war in Iraq and weapons of mass destruction are other examples that come to mind. The truth is, we don't know the truth and until we do, passing off an accepted belief or opinion as the truth is no different than a boldface lie.
I leave you with one additional illustration; in the early 15th century, the common truth of the day was that the world was flat. This was the accepted belief. It took a brave man to prove this untrue. Just a thought.
We throw around the word truth as if everyone fully understands its meaning. In most cases, the truth we desire is yielded from the first definition I referenced. Your children may tell you the truth when asked about a situation, and if they do not, then they have lied. Witnesses in a court of law swear to tell the truth, and if they are found to be misrepresenting the facts, then they have perjured themselves. These are instances of undisputable facts that are verified as true and exist without further appraisal.
Once we delve into the second definition of truth, the waters muddy almost immediately. If truth exists as what is true, then how can the truth be associated with an accepted fact? The truth is…it can't.
We see this definition of truth applied much too often in society today. What people readily believe as true becomes true with little added thought or experimentation. Politicians have used this premise in the past to gain favor with the electorate on myriad platforms. The most noticeable example available today is global warming. We have been told that global warming is an undeniable reality from numerous sources, and yet no verified or indisputable facts exist to support this claim. Whether or not I believe global warming exists is irrelevant when making an assertion that it does or does not. What we do have is numerous politically inspired people trying to sway public opinion, usually for monetary gain, by passing off an opinion as the truth; i.e.: Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." If there is money to be made, controlling public opinion then becomes the simple truth and the masses inevitably succumb hook, line, and sinker.
Global warming is just one example of how the truth is manufactured in modern day politicking. The war in Iraq and weapons of mass destruction are other examples that come to mind. The truth is, we don't know the truth and until we do, passing off an accepted belief or opinion as the truth is no different than a boldface lie.
I leave you with one additional illustration; in the early 15th century, the common truth of the day was that the world was flat. This was the accepted belief. It took a brave man to prove this untrue. Just a thought.
Derelicts, Degenerates, and Rogues
Almost on a daily basis, I turn on the TV, only to hear the seedy details of the current scandal or crises existing in Hollywood, Washington, or even in Kentucky. From celebrities to politicians, I am disheartened by the bad behavior, skewed logic, and felonious actions of the aforementioned dregs of society. Harsh words, I know, and before you jump at my broad painting of people in the spotlight, let me qualify my statement.
As in any society, the actions of the law-abiding citizenry go unnoticed as this is the expected behavior. There are no news reports highlighting the good behavior of your neighbor down the street. Zippo! What we see, however, are the celebrity dregs monopolizing the headlines with heinous offenses and lewd behavior. Those who immediately come to mind are as follows: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Vick, OJ Simpson, Britney Spears, half of the Cincinnati Bengals, Mark Foley, Don Imus, Larry Craig, and Jack Abramoff to name a few. Isn't it funny how the details of each aforementioned person I name go without saying? We all ready know. We know because we are told every day that the people we idolize are, for the most part, creeps. Yet we are fascinated with their celebrity.
Celebrity is a funny thing to break down. Some of those we dub celebrities are deserving of such credential. People like Tom Hanks, Newt Gingrich, Bill Gates, Denzel Washington, Payton Manning, Tom Brady, etc. are deserving of such accolades yet their coverage is rare compared to that of the Britney minions. We see their movies, watch their games, listen to their philosophies, and then they go home to their families like you and I. These are the people trying to make a difference with their celebrity. Most of them probably don't even identify with their celebrity status.
When writing blogs, I try to avoid soap box diatribes since that is the status quo in the blogging environment. I usually lean toward obscure philosophical after thoughts trying to maintain an objective tone. Perhaps my present tone is due to a pop culture embracing derelicts, degenerates, and rogues. In our anything-goes world today, maybe we should tell jack-ass celebrities to go home. Just a thought.
As in any society, the actions of the law-abiding citizenry go unnoticed as this is the expected behavior. There are no news reports highlighting the good behavior of your neighbor down the street. Zippo! What we see, however, are the celebrity dregs monopolizing the headlines with heinous offenses and lewd behavior. Those who immediately come to mind are as follows: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Vick, OJ Simpson, Britney Spears, half of the Cincinnati Bengals, Mark Foley, Don Imus, Larry Craig, and Jack Abramoff to name a few. Isn't it funny how the details of each aforementioned person I name go without saying? We all ready know. We know because we are told every day that the people we idolize are, for the most part, creeps. Yet we are fascinated with their celebrity.
Celebrity is a funny thing to break down. Some of those we dub celebrities are deserving of such credential. People like Tom Hanks, Newt Gingrich, Bill Gates, Denzel Washington, Payton Manning, Tom Brady, etc. are deserving of such accolades yet their coverage is rare compared to that of the Britney minions. We see their movies, watch their games, listen to their philosophies, and then they go home to their families like you and I. These are the people trying to make a difference with their celebrity. Most of them probably don't even identify with their celebrity status.
When writing blogs, I try to avoid soap box diatribes since that is the status quo in the blogging environment. I usually lean toward obscure philosophical after thoughts trying to maintain an objective tone. Perhaps my present tone is due to a pop culture embracing derelicts, degenerates, and rogues. In our anything-goes world today, maybe we should tell jack-ass celebrities to go home. Just a thought.
From Outer Space to Tinsel Town...Reasons Why I Scratch my Head
It occurred to me the other day that the news, be it national or local, has a rather skewed system of prioritization. This is a big shocker, I know. I usually consume as much printed news as I can garner, leaving the televised product for reference only when I need to glean special information, i.e., school closings, weather events, catastrophic events, etc.
With the writers on strike, however, I am left scratching my head at times for programs to waste my time watching. I figure the news fits nicely between reruns of Man vs. Wild and ESPN highlights run for the fifth time of the day. That being said, I found myself slack-jawed yesterday when I learned, through a local news outlet, that a large U.S. spy satellite was expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March 2008 and could hit North America. What caught me so off guard was the final line of the reporter's report that read something like this:
…and the chance of the satellite hitting the U.S is slim. Now to the latest Britney Spears nervous breakdown…
What…I looked around and noticed that from another room, my wife had heard the same report and was arching an eyebrow as she looked back at me in amazement.
The realization was this…The local news has just reported that a U.S. spy satellite, the size of an armored truck, was going to reenter Earth's atmosphere with the possibility of slamming into the United States. Slim…slim chance…which to me means that it is entirely possible to be walking outside and have a big spy satellite land on your head. Perhaps this little bit of knowledge is a tad more important than whether or not Britney and Dr. Phil will continue to be friends as she spirals even further out of control. Yet the reporter barely blinked while delivering the less than desirable news.
Maybe I am naïve or better yet oblivious to the perils of the Universe but when a big ass spy satellite has even the slightest potential to crash into our planet, maybe we should dwell a little more on the satellite and a little less on dismissing it for the latest drug overdose in tinsel town. Does that sound callous? If not, it should! Just a thought.
With the writers on strike, however, I am left scratching my head at times for programs to waste my time watching. I figure the news fits nicely between reruns of Man vs. Wild and ESPN highlights run for the fifth time of the day. That being said, I found myself slack-jawed yesterday when I learned, through a local news outlet, that a large U.S. spy satellite was expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March 2008 and could hit North America. What caught me so off guard was the final line of the reporter's report that read something like this:
…and the chance of the satellite hitting the U.S is slim. Now to the latest Britney Spears nervous breakdown…
What…I looked around and noticed that from another room, my wife had heard the same report and was arching an eyebrow as she looked back at me in amazement.
The realization was this…The local news has just reported that a U.S. spy satellite, the size of an armored truck, was going to reenter Earth's atmosphere with the possibility of slamming into the United States. Slim…slim chance…which to me means that it is entirely possible to be walking outside and have a big spy satellite land on your head. Perhaps this little bit of knowledge is a tad more important than whether or not Britney and Dr. Phil will continue to be friends as she spirals even further out of control. Yet the reporter barely blinked while delivering the less than desirable news.
Maybe I am naïve or better yet oblivious to the perils of the Universe but when a big ass spy satellite has even the slightest potential to crash into our planet, maybe we should dwell a little more on the satellite and a little less on dismissing it for the latest drug overdose in tinsel town. Does that sound callous? If not, it should! Just a thought.
Satan's Lair and Country Club
I recently returned from a three day golf trip with a major epiphany. Simply stated, one should not invest three days endeavoring to hit a tiny white ball with the broad face of a titanium club head when one does not have the faculties to line up said ball with said club face. Perhaps this goes without saying but those of us who suck at golf should either go gently into that good night or get lessons…anyone know any real patient teachers?
I do not tell this story so that I may be ridiculed for my lack of golfing skill, I share it to illustrate a point that recently came to me while wondering why anyone would subject themselves to the utter exhaustion that comes from posting a modest 136 on the course I affectionately dubbed Satan's Lair and Country Club.
The point I am trying to make is this…golf is a wonderfully awkward metaphor for life.
For some of us, golf comes easy, the shots may not be perfect but each and every swing of the club progresses the ball further down the fairway. When the last hole is played, the score is low and the golfer, for the most part, is content. Then you have those of us who struggle with golf and swing twice as many times for half the result. The course is long and no matter how many times the club is swung, you wonder if you will ever finish. Both the good and bad golfer have achieved the same result, it has just taken the bad golfer twice the energy and twice the score for the same result.
Many times life reflects the bad golfer scenario. No matter how hard we make a specific task, others will breeze through it with half the effort and achieve the same result. Perhaps not all of us are bad golfers but I surmise that at some point in your life you have faced a stumbling block that seemed insurmountable; a moment of uncertainty, not knowing how the situation should be played or if you could even attempt the task. I believe these situations to be the turning point of life, the moment when our Creator looks down, questioning our resolve, and wondering how we will play the hole.
My best friend once told me that in life he wanted to struggle so that he may fully enjoy the comfort of stability. In terms of golf, he couldn't be further from the truth, however, in terms of life, he is spot on. It is in our struggles that we find our passion, our resolve, and our direction. Just a thought.
I do not tell this story so that I may be ridiculed for my lack of golfing skill, I share it to illustrate a point that recently came to me while wondering why anyone would subject themselves to the utter exhaustion that comes from posting a modest 136 on the course I affectionately dubbed Satan's Lair and Country Club.
The point I am trying to make is this…golf is a wonderfully awkward metaphor for life.
For some of us, golf comes easy, the shots may not be perfect but each and every swing of the club progresses the ball further down the fairway. When the last hole is played, the score is low and the golfer, for the most part, is content. Then you have those of us who struggle with golf and swing twice as many times for half the result. The course is long and no matter how many times the club is swung, you wonder if you will ever finish. Both the good and bad golfer have achieved the same result, it has just taken the bad golfer twice the energy and twice the score for the same result.
Many times life reflects the bad golfer scenario. No matter how hard we make a specific task, others will breeze through it with half the effort and achieve the same result. Perhaps not all of us are bad golfers but I surmise that at some point in your life you have faced a stumbling block that seemed insurmountable; a moment of uncertainty, not knowing how the situation should be played or if you could even attempt the task. I believe these situations to be the turning point of life, the moment when our Creator looks down, questioning our resolve, and wondering how we will play the hole.
My best friend once told me that in life he wanted to struggle so that he may fully enjoy the comfort of stability. In terms of golf, he couldn't be further from the truth, however, in terms of life, he is spot on. It is in our struggles that we find our passion, our resolve, and our direction. Just a thought.
Things I Do Not Understand…and Probably Never Will
These days it seems like so many different things are going on at once that we forget to question our surroundings. I am just as guilty as anyone when it comes to going with the flow so I have decided to chronicle those things that I encounter on a daily basis that make no sense whatsoever. Here is my list:
1. The other day I had to pay taxes on my truck. Not that this is extraordinary but I have been questioning the whole logic of yearly taxes on property ever since. I bought a shirt last year as well but I didn't have to pay taxes on it again this year. I didn't have to put a new sticker on it either. Could you imagine getting a statement from the DOA (Department of Apparel) stating that you had until June 31, 2008 to pay your yearly clothing tax? Am I mistaken or don't we all pay taxes at the point of purchase. Why is it we have to continually pay taxes on big ticket items year in and year out?
2. I was talking to a friend last night about donating blood at the blood bank and it hit me, why is there always a shortage of blood? Seems to me, if you need blood, you had better have some in your account. There would be no worries about where the blood came from if you were responsible for storing your own blood. Just like making a bank deposit, you could stop by the blood center and make a blood deposit. For those that don't make it as often as they would like, you could always lend them some of yours, with interest of course.
3. Often times, while driving, I notice large orange signs on the side of the road that read BUMP in large black letters. Sure enough, 5 seconds after I read the sign, I hit a substantial bump in the road. My question is this, instead of making a sign that warns of the bump in the road, how about we fix the bump and save the signs for other more important warnings relevant to commuter traffic?
4. Speaking in terms of commuter traffic, why is it that a motorcyclist can ride a motorcycle without a helmet or any other safety device yet I can be pulled over and ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt? Given the choice between two accidents, both at a speed of 30 miles per hour, which would you choose; inside a car without a seatbelt or sitting on a motorcycle without a helmet? If you choose the latter, perhaps you have all ready wrecked your motorcycle.
5. I was watching a reality TV show the other day that highlighted impressionists, you know, people who sound just like celebrities, and got to thinking; if I could sound like anyone, why wouldn't I choose a famous singer. I imagine famous singers make a tad more than impressionists when it comes down to the nitty gritty…but hey that's just me.
OK, so this is just a small list of items that cause me to pause and ponder the logical landscape of the world around me. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expect to find logic in places logic does not exist. In the words of Samuel Butler, "Logic is like the sword: those who appeal to it shall perish by it." Just a thought.
1. The other day I had to pay taxes on my truck. Not that this is extraordinary but I have been questioning the whole logic of yearly taxes on property ever since. I bought a shirt last year as well but I didn't have to pay taxes on it again this year. I didn't have to put a new sticker on it either. Could you imagine getting a statement from the DOA (Department of Apparel) stating that you had until June 31, 2008 to pay your yearly clothing tax? Am I mistaken or don't we all pay taxes at the point of purchase. Why is it we have to continually pay taxes on big ticket items year in and year out?
2. I was talking to a friend last night about donating blood at the blood bank and it hit me, why is there always a shortage of blood? Seems to me, if you need blood, you had better have some in your account. There would be no worries about where the blood came from if you were responsible for storing your own blood. Just like making a bank deposit, you could stop by the blood center and make a blood deposit. For those that don't make it as often as they would like, you could always lend them some of yours, with interest of course.
3. Often times, while driving, I notice large orange signs on the side of the road that read BUMP in large black letters. Sure enough, 5 seconds after I read the sign, I hit a substantial bump in the road. My question is this, instead of making a sign that warns of the bump in the road, how about we fix the bump and save the signs for other more important warnings relevant to commuter traffic?
4. Speaking in terms of commuter traffic, why is it that a motorcyclist can ride a motorcycle without a helmet or any other safety device yet I can be pulled over and ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt? Given the choice between two accidents, both at a speed of 30 miles per hour, which would you choose; inside a car without a seatbelt or sitting on a motorcycle without a helmet? If you choose the latter, perhaps you have all ready wrecked your motorcycle.
5. I was watching a reality TV show the other day that highlighted impressionists, you know, people who sound just like celebrities, and got to thinking; if I could sound like anyone, why wouldn't I choose a famous singer. I imagine famous singers make a tad more than impressionists when it comes down to the nitty gritty…but hey that's just me.
OK, so this is just a small list of items that cause me to pause and ponder the logical landscape of the world around me. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expect to find logic in places logic does not exist. In the words of Samuel Butler, "Logic is like the sword: those who appeal to it shall perish by it." Just a thought.
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