Do you know the truth? …

Do you know the truth? …

What’s the truth? How do you know what’s real? What do we want to believe? Confusion and disorientation are synonyms for infidelity. Finding the “truth” is the primary means of regaining a sense of reality, but how to do that? See if you can find the truth in this situation…
In 1977 I set out on my bike in search of adventure. A good friend joined in and off we went. The goal was to was to make a two week trip traveling from Lubbock TX to Los Angeles, then up US 101 to Portland OR and back again on $150. Bikes don't use much gas and we were young enough that cheap food didn’t bother us nor did sleeping under the stars.

About two-thirds of the way through the trip, as we cruised up US 101, we saw a sign saying "Bay City Park" 15 miles. The day was long and even though it was July we were cold to the bone. With night fast approaching, we decided this was as good a place as any so off we went to find the park. Only problem, when we arrived our anticipated park ended up being a city not a park. It made no difference to us, we just wanted a place to rest. The road closed barricade discovered by the Methodist Church seemed the perfect solution. All we needed was a little privacy. Getting the bikes though the barricade proved to be a bit of a challenge, but in a few minutes we were hidden from sight. We found a level piece of ground, threw the tarp over the bikes, laid out the sleeping bags and went fast asleep.

I was awakened the next morning by the sound of birds. Looking out from our make shift tent I saw a scene that must have been scripted by Disney. There was a huge oak tree with moss hanging from the limbs and a covey of about 30 quail having breakfast. It was absolutely gorgeous. The beauty of the scene blew me away.

After a while the quail flew off, Tom awoke and morning began. As we moved from under the tent we began exploring our little Garden of Eden. Just over the knoll I discovered the shock of my young life. We were smack dab in the middle of the city dump. Not fifty feet away rats were rummaging through garbage. Needless to say what I perceived to be true changed.

The other day, while reminiscing about that trip, it occurred to me that I could use “Google Maps” to retrace our trip. Back in the day Google didn't exist and I'd never even considered that possibility. I opened my computer and began the search. Only problem, I couldn’t find "Bay City Park”, but I knew approximately I’d last seen it so I took a picture.

It’s the same location from three different perspectives. The garden of Eden, the city dump and the satellite view. Which perspective is true? When lying in the hollow under the oak tree, was that real? Does the city dump reveal what was real and true about our campsite? What about this picture, does it reflect what’s true about that location?

Our perspective is driven by our attitude. I can choose to focus on whichever I want. All three realities are true and I choose how I want to see it. The same is true of our circumstances in life. We can choose to beauty or we can choose to focus on the dump. Those commodities are forever present. Please understand I’m not trying to minimize the difficulty of anyone’s situation, but I do believe we are capable of making it even more difficult by what we choose to focus on.
This past week a woman was telling me about her experience of calling her AP, (with her brother present), and terminating the relationship. When he informed her husband he was furious because he felt the call should have been made from my office. To confirm she was telling the truth, he called the AP at work to ask him what was said even though her brother had confirmed the story. Thankfully his older daughter challenged him asking; “Are you telling me that you’d believe the AP before you’d believe my mom and her brother?”.
From my perspective, I’m pleased as punch that she chose to cut it off. Given her history that’s real progress. Unfortunately all her husband could focus on was the possibility that she might not have told the truth. (I happen to believe her). Which perspective it true? Both are. We get to choose.

What perspective do you choose and how does that influence you truth? Be open to considering others perspectives, you might be surprised by what you see.