honesty
Honesty, does it exist anymore?
I am one who thinks deeply and loves deeply.
I think deeply, so I have a concern for people, but the amount of concern in my heart may not equivocate with sufficient action or participation. This is something I’m grappling with. Faith without works is dead.
I love deeply, so when people are hurting, I feel their pain, but is enough to feel? (another grapple)
Most of us find ourselves in a state of unrest. We’ve gone through the gamut of emotions from disbelief, sadness, regret, anger, and now confusion. I think there is so much confusion because there is such a lack of honesty.
I’m finding it very difficult to discern what is true anymore, especially in the current media climate. There appear to be so many unseen forces pushing agenda’s and placing me in a proverbial corner, feeling trapped and confused. The obvious agendas are COVID 19, racial unrest, climate, culture, and politics, to name a few. There will always be differing opinions, but if opinions were portrayed as opinions, and truth portrayed with honesty, then I would be able to decide how to emerge from my corner. But, common virtue seems to be rather passé. Slander, ridicule, and disrespect seem to be the prevailing commonplace and means of expressing and communicating. This is happening in the highest offices of our government down to friends and families. Nothing is sacred anymore!
I find it sad, and it seems to be hampering my motivation towards action. Instead, it makes me want to retreat, but that doesn’t solve anything either. So, what can I do, what can we do?
Maybe we need to apply the Golden Rule: do unto others how you would have them do to you. I think it might be pretty simple application, or is it? It appears this ancient rule may not fly any more because who am I to say how you should be treated? How can I even dare to think that I might know what you want? This approach was brought to light in a New York Times Magazine article a few years back. It’s an interesting read that exemplifies this train of thought. So, the Golden Rule isn’t so golden anymore. What else might work? How about speaking the truth, is that acceptable? I would think so, but that would be too simple.
Apparently, the truth comes in more than one form. There’s ‘your truth’ and ‘the truth’. An article in The Atlantic explains the difference as it exposes Oprah Winfrey’s approach to ‘truth’. In the article, you’ll find how her approach to truth had an influential effect on her audience. I suppose this is the prevailing trend of truth-thought, especially since many would argue against absolute truth.
So, if we can’t use the Golden Rule and truth is subjective, what else is there? Can we at least try honesty?
Let’s give that a shot. No one says it better than Billy Joel in his song, Honesty. (Click on the blue link) Listen and enjoy the tone of his voice as he sings this tender ballad. It’s well worth your time, at least I think so.
Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you
I think Billy got it right. This is what I want and need. I just wish honesty was spoken and heard. We need more honesty from the top down and from the media and culture. I think that would help us think deeper, discern better, and love more. If we each engender honesty, life would be less confusing and allow me to move out of my proverbial corner into deliberate action and positive change.
Of course, there were others, more important than Billy Joel, who wrote about honesty.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Today, let’s try to be honest in our words and deeds.
Today, let’s try to be honest in our words and deeds.