Some time ago, people decided that it was okay to say whatever you wanted, without fear of consequence. Some time later, people assumed that because they could say anything they wanted, they should. The Constitution doesn’t say you should blurt out anything that comes to your mind: it just says you have the right to do so. We still must deal with the consequences of our words.
Truly great people were certainly not afraid of the truth. However, they were also smart enough to know when to say nothing at all. Truth and wisdom serve no purpose if they fall on deaf ears, and will blow away with the wind. Telling the truth effectively hinges on knowing when someone needs to know the truth and will accept it to their benefit. To put it in perspective, it is useless to give a key (wisdom) to someone who doesn’t even realize they are in a cage. They see no need for it and will throw it away, wasting both their time and yours.
A wise man once said “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” I certainly do not fall into that category, but I understand where he’s coming from. I catch my kids tattling on each other all the time, and whenever they do, I stand up and yell in my best teenage girl voice: “Mom! Phineas and Furb are making a Title Sequence!” It’s quite funny, but it makes them stop and think. Are they telling me the truth if they tattle? Possibly. Are they telling me information that is going to help anybody? Usually, it’s only to help themselves get what they want… a toy, revenge, solitude, attention, whatever.
When you speak the truth to someone, are you telling them in order to improve their lives?
Are you dropping tidbits of wisdom for them to glean and grow from?
Or are you just reminding them how ridiculous they are for following popular trends and being okay with mediocrity?
Nobody was ever ridiculed into being wise. They must be taught.
February 19th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Agreed?