Is it True?

I noticed that today, more than ever before, I have to ask myself, “is it true?”. It’s not a terrible question but I feel as though it may be becoming an unhealthy habit.

Shakespeare said:

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; – (As You Like It)

This is even more so in the world of social media like TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook (companies designed for the sole purpose of using your habits as a commodity to sell to the highest advertising bidder).

Today I would modify Shakespeare’s line to “All the world’s a conspiracy theory and all the men and women merely players…fools full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.“

On X(Twitter) one may read that the attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump was an “inside job”; it was an attempt to kill Trump by the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, President Joe Biden, the NWO, (insert favorite organization or political party here…).

Later, you may read that the attempt on Trump’s life was a ruse, an act, a play, an elaborate hoax played by the Trump Team as a way to garner sympathy, gain followers and supporters, and get more votes.

Of both theories, I am sure there are more, I ask, is it true? Both theories have their rabbit-hole of reasoning, connecting dots, players, and justifications. Both seem entirely plausible in our current culture depending on the hill on which you stand.

Today, with a quick scan of X (which I don’t recommend if you want to keep your sanity and faith in the goodness of humanity) you will find a video of the former president at the Republican National Convention with his eyes closing or closed. One side states that he is praying and should be commended. The other says he is falling asleep and not fit for office. Which is true?

Both sides have a message. Both sides want to influence the outcome of the election. Both sides have an agenda. These videos and arguments cater to the average non-thinking person. The goal is to trigger an emotional response and move the individual into one camp or the other.

However, this is not a sporting event. This is not a time for simply cheering for the home or away team. This is the future of our country. The men and women who move into positions of (earthly) power act and those actions have consequences for the country and the world.

Yet, in all of this mess I think a bigger problem is rearing it’s ugly head; people do not think, they do not use logic, they no longer ask themselves, is this true? Rather, they follow the narrative, tow the party line, hate – because that’s what you are supposed to do if you are a true red-blooded; patriot, white, black, liberal, republican, conservative, democrat…. The tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free have become mobs crying out for more panem et circenses.

As I finished reading a meditation from today’s Magnificat I found myself asking, is it true? Here, the questions startled me. Why would I ask it after reading this brief meditation, from a trusted publisher, on one of the founders of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? Why indeed! After some reflection, my answer is that I have been being trained to do so to the point that I doubt everything. Not only do I doubt the veracity of that which I see online, I now doubt the truth of historical writings, famous quotes, my children’s stories, and my wife’s recollections from the day. And that’s not good (please read that with a Jordan B. Peterson voiceover)

Imagine a world where you doubted the truth about everything! How would that be any way to live? Where would you go for answers? Who would you ask for advice? How would you communicate truthfully and honestly with another human being? You would eventually give up hope and trust! You would replace communication and trust with choosing a side that you most closely identify with (at the time). You would travel with the mob. You would float downstream like a dead body refusing to put your feet down and stand on a spot of ground. Welcome to today.

May I suggest a couple steps toward finding the answer to, is it true:

1. Step away from media (any kind). Most of what you are consuming is a mixture of lies and truth. All of it is outside your circle of control and very little of it is within your circle of influence. It is detrimental to your mental health and ultimately your physical health. I get worked up over political news in the same way that I get worked up over The Ohio State Buckeye Football team making a mistake. My blood pressure rises, I become angry and agitated, I can do nothing about either situation. Turn if off.
2. Make a list of what you truly believe, then make a list of why you believe these things. Do some honest research for and against your belief (Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood). Are you for abortion? Why? Examine both sides honestly and try to see the issue from both sides. THIS is putting your feet down on a spot of ground. This is seeking truth. The truth cannot be found in sound bites or 120 characters.
3. Stop having conversations (debates) online. Period. If your classmate from high school posted something political that you fervently disagree with, don’t respond online. No matter how well you communicate, your friend is reading your word pixels through their paradigm; it is a paradigm easily colored by what they are experiencing in the moment. Rather, invite them to lunch to discuss. We need to return to real human communication and interaction. Humans are real and human communication involves more than reading. There are facial movements, tone of voice, body language, and so much more that is involved in true communication. Note: What you say on line may, can, and will be held against you forever.

Our country, our communities, and even our families are in deep need of healing. I think this healing can begin if we detox from media, read, pray, and study, and have deep conversations about important things. These practices listed above can bring about real trust and not cause us to wonder, at every turn, is it true? Why? Because we’ve done the hard work of finding truth, the hard work of understanding what we really believe, and the extremely difficult work of treating others as our neighbor, who may may not like, but are called to love.