There may still be some of senior years who can still remember a popular TV game show entitled “Truth or Consequences.” I don’t recall the exact details of the game nor even who hosted it. What I do still clearly remember is that there were certain bad consequences for giving incorrect answers to the questions asked.
Although none of these original games still exist nor probably have ever been heard of today, the irony of this particular one is being systematically brought back to mind.
There remain various degrees of increasing gravity to the consequences of being untruthful-–which many in high places in particular have been primarily exempt from. But the deception that actually begins so seemingly innocent, has transcended to a master art in today’s society and political arena.
It starts with fairy tales to children and especially with the entrance of “Old St. Nick” or Santa Clause down the chimney on Christmas Eve–along with the Birth of the Christ Child. Couple this with the consequential over-commercialization of that same lengthy mid-winter holiday and few indeed can be found of any (or no) religious persuasion who do not capitalize on the Santa concept rather than on the Birth of the Christ Child that continues to pale in comparison, even among Christian households.
The consequences, children are too soon left with the challenge of separating fact from fiction. Such confused beginnings could play a significant role in the refusal or inability of adults in general in recognizing and/or accepting truth and its bearing on facing reality.
Ever vivid in my mind remains the statement made by me, while returning home from a family gathering, of a particular relative who “never could face reality, when my son, Stan instantly countered, “Who can? Many years later I’m still wrestling with that one. Is reality always that obvious? And when it is, are we only able to cope with it in varying degrees?
In humanity there are three primary degrees, we read in the Baha’i Holy Writings, the physical, mental and spiritual.
“The intelligence of man is the intermediary between the body and the spirit…The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. Although man is part of the animal world he possesses a power of thought superior to all other created beings. If a man’s thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects, then does he become saintly. If on the other hand his thought does not soar but is directed downwards to center itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal–nay, lower than the animal that cannot help being an animal.”
Truth also is of two kinds: absolute and variable, neither of which (like change) is readily accepted. Some change comes gradually while others more abruptly, making them much harder to accept. In fact the very word change itself seems to automatically trigger fear and opposition, regardless of the process or intent, primarily due to past experience with deception and the historic absence of truth. Subsequently centuries of deceit among men and nations continue to impede and/or destroy the peace, unity and very foundation of human existence on this planet at every level.
“Truthfulness is the foundation of all the virtues of the world of humanity,” state the Baha’i Holy Writings. “Without truthfulness, progress and success in all of the worlds of God are impossible for any soul. When this holy attribute is established in man, all the divine qualities will also become realized!”…and there ‘d be no fear of consequences!
