"What is Truth?"

This morning, I read the question, "What is Truth?" The author posing the question then answers the question by quoting something that Jesus allegedly said -- that God's Word is truth.

I thought about the question, leaving Jesus aside.

Carol, what is Truth?
Truth is the opposite of a lie. Lies are fables. 
Truth then must be reality, life as it is including events that really happen(ed), and not fables. 

Both fables and reality claim facts and circumstances and motives. The difference is that one story really happened or happens; the other didn't or doesn't. One is true; the other, false.

So, I was left pondering reality as truth.

~*~

The author continues, "Truth is not relative."

I agree. Truth [reality] is not relative. Nothing trumps reality. Reality is. In a sense, it is the ultimate power and judge.

I believe that nature must be the closest example we have of reality [truth]. She plays no favorites. Nature is. We see her raw power on display, though the forces themselves may be invisible to the naked eye.

Human actions do have an effect on nature and her forces, and thus on reality. But ultimately, we have to surrender to reality, facing consequences or blessings.

~*~

The author continues, "God expresses His will to us with words so that we can understand Him."

That sentence stopped me in my reading tracks.

Really?! God relegates the vastness and multi-layered aspects of truth [reality] to mere words on a page? That is how I can understand a universal creator? By reading words on a page?

My past Way-brain instantaneously reminded me that's really not what I learned or believed as a Way believer.

God's Word involves more than words on a page; it includes oral words and the Word in the flesh, Jesus. And God first wrote His Word not on a page, but rather in the stars, telling the story of redemption in the zodiac and beyond. Much of the meaning though is contained within the names of those stars which were all passed along orally until God later had to have his certain chosen prophets pen that revelation to have a document, a standard, because as the earth became/becomes more and more filled with people and as the adversary (the devil) worked/works more and more to deceive, humans need a written standard that they can always go back to as a touchstone. 

To make things even more constraining and complicated, the author then states, "It [the Word] can be rightly-divided by studying to show ourselves approved unto God or used to purport the adversary's ideas. It can be understood and believed because it interprets itself in the verse, its context, or how it has been spoken of previously! Truth does not contradict itself from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21."

So now in order to understand a universal creator, who is God my Father, I have this written standard that I have to figure out? But I have to be diligent because it can be distorted into whatever way the devil wants in order to purport his lies?

And the whole spiel about the Word interpreting itself in the verse, in the context, and used before sounds like gobbly-gook. On the other hand, if one thinks about it, that is how written language works, along with definitions and multiple aspects that grammarians and linguists and sociologists and other "ists" have studied.

Should I do the same with my kids? Give them my written standard and tell them to read it in order to know me and understand me, but be sure to interpret it properly because there's a devil who'll twist it? So my kids ask, "How do we know when he's twisting it?" I answer, "My motive is always love. So if it contradicts love, it's wrong. Just keep reading. And remember, it all has to fit with no contradictions."

All this feels like a straitjacket trying to squeeze the life right out of life.

~*~

As I continued to read the rest of the author's epistle on "What is Truth," I got to thinking (yet again) about myth and belief.

I guess from the time humans tried to start answering the question "Why?" they have surmised and calculated and invented "answers" to help cope through the hardships and turmoil and heartbreak and evil that life can pound. These answers form beliefs that, in addition to explaining the evil, give more meaning to the magic of life, the inexplicable happenstances, the beauty, the power of nature and the cosmos.

So, it's about survival. Trying to cope with and explain life.
And we cling to that which resonates for us -- our beliefs.
That resonance is different for different people.
Beliefs can be good, as long as those beliefs aren't used to manipulate and harm, which is sadly too often the case.

~*~

I often wonder, What do I really believe?

I believe there are forces, unseen and still undiscovered, that can cause circumstances to appear as if they are supernatural. I do not believe these yet undiscovered forces or their resulting impacts are any more supernatural than the current discoverable forces of nature, which are beyond incredible. Humans have not yet even conceived of measuring tools to illuminate these yet undiscovered currents or forces. And once we invent those tools, there'll probably still be a multitude of yet undiscovered layers.

I wonder if we'll ever stop trying to peer beyond.
I wonder if we'll come up with a belief measuring tool.
That's kind of a scary thought.

Do I believe there is a benevolent creator behind those discovered-and-undiscovered forces?
I want to, but I still can't say for sure.
But I want to believe there is "something" and that I'll be delightfully surprised in the hereafter. 

Perhaps, nature is my "god" now.
I certainly hold her in great awe.
And I've taken up praying to trees.
I swear they hear me.

God's Acre, Bethabara

Grandfather Fir at Grayson Highlands, 6/01/16...

I took a day trip to Grayson Highlands yesterday, 6/01/16.

I went to visit a tree.

I had previously named the tree "Grandfather Spruce." But I realized yesterday, he's a Fraser Fir. So now, his name is "Grandfather Fir." He resides along the mountainside on the south side of Massie Gap on the Rhododendron Trail.

~*~

On Thursday, January 29, 2015, I took a day trip to Grayson, and I prayed to Grandfather Fir. My prayer at the time was simple, "Heal my limbs..."

As I whispered those three words, the sole human standing on the snow-frosted mountainside with the cold winter wind kissing my cheeks, gazing up at that tall, strong, graceful Evergreen, more words immediately followed. "You have limbs. Strong. Durable. Limbs. Heal my limbs."

It was at that point, I began my intimate relationship with Trees who have become my living witnesses. Sometimes they cradle me as I ride Olivia through the woods, or as I walk when I'm able, or as I just sit or lay and notice them.

On June 10, 2015, almost five months after that January 29, 2015, prayer, I added Charlotte's Web Hemp Extract to my therapy. In July, 2015, my limbs began coming back to life.

I guesstimate that currently my legs are about 45 to 50% better and my arms about 35 to 40% better compared to this time last year.

And...I've thought of that tree...and my prayer to it.

Does that mean I believe trees answer prayers? Maybe so! :D

Beginning in the fall, 2015, symptoms have spread to my back, neck, and jaws; along with shortness of breath and 5-weeks of dizziness (probably orthostatic hypotension).

So yesterday I took a trip to talk to Grandfather Fir about my "trunk" and "crown." He has a trunk and crown...I want to borrow his strength.

Maybe my trunk and crown will respond like my limbs have. Wouldn't that be Groot great! :D

~*~

My pictures are taken with my old iPhone 4.

Wild daisies among young domestic Fraser firs. Tucker Road.

Grandfather Fir 

Grandfather Fir's above-ground roots

One of the Fraser fir families, heading north toward Massie Gap.

Feral chestnut pony galloping 

Fabio chasing the chestnut

Fabio in motion

Feral pony nuzzling feral ponkey in Massie Gap Meadow

At the border of Grayson Highlands and Jefferson National Forest.
I was able to hike 2.25 miles.
I'm proud of that too!
I met one AT thru-hiker whose trail name is Quiet.

~ magical day ~

What inspires you?

A few weeks ago, I wrote the following in response to the question, "What inspires you?" or maybe it was "What brings you inspiration?" ...or something along those lines...

~*~
My Inspiration?

At the top of the list are my mom and dad, both deceased now. Dad lived his last 13 years as a quadriplegic after an auto accident at age 62. Mom was his main caregiver until his death. Because of her and because of Dad's determined attitude, those 13 years were filled to the brim with life and goodness. Mom and Dad really did make lemonade out of those lemons from the tree of circumstance.

Moving down the list, probably next are real life stories of so-called everyday people who continue to carry on, carry on. Most of those stories don't make it to the public media and news. Some we learn about in face-to-face happenstances. Some are hidden in script on pages between covers of a book. Some are publicly concealed deep in internet archives, along with billions of pieces of information. Some we live. There are lots more "somes" in this category.

Other inspirations are Mother Nature, the Cosmos, wildlife and domestic animals, so-called myth and stories, history, visual arts, music, poetry, gratitude, good memories, and...

Of course, my bike Olivia.
And the Blue Ridge Mountains.
And the Appalachian Trail.
And our National, State, and Local Parks.
And...

This list could go on forever....

~*~
This was fun to think and write about. That's inspiring too!
~*~