Monday, April 20, 2015

Organic Truth

Friends of Faith:
Many of us have heard “we are what we eat.” But where do we get what we eat? Does it come from McDonalds, Olive Garden or some other restaurant, or does it come direct from the farm? Is it organic or processed; in its original form or a product of the world?

And just like food that we feed our bodies, so too is the truth which feeds us emotionally and spiritually both manufactured, processed and/or organic. So, not only are our bodies what we eat; so too is our mind and our heart what it is fed.
Matthew Kelly puts it this way: “I can tell who a person is by the books on their bookshelves.”
 
“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children* walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk. Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. Anyone who is so “progressive”* as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works. 2Jn 1: 4-11
 
So what and where does our truth come from? Are we getting a“healthy” dose of the truth directly from Jesus’ teachings, Scripture, the Church and directly from those who witness service and mercy of Jesus or by those who are being of service? Or is our truth coming from something that the world has humanly manufactured or processed?

How true is the 6 o’clock news? Is what we are listening to a true reporting of an event? And is our reality based on the percentage of time given to what is reported on the nightly news? Think about a 30 minute news program—15 minutes of which is advertising, business propaganda that is manufactured so that we will believe what they want us to believe; 1 or 2 minutes to an accident or tragedy (probably real, but often nothing that will teach us how to become a better citizen or servant); 1 or 2 minutes to human interest (only occasionally about someone who has done a good deed; more often about politics or entertainment); 3-5 minutes of weather (someone’s prediction of what they think will happen in the next 7 days, about which only 50% actually happens) and 5 minutes of sports reporting which while it may be real, is truly “just a game.”
How about reality TV? How many of us will “Dance with the Stars;” be the “Voice;” date 25 men or women at the same time to be the “Bachelor”or “Bachelorette;” or run the “Amazing Race” in some foreign country? And does CSI really reflect the court system or have anything to do with helping our neighbor?

How much time do we spend reading opinions, gossip or and watching reposted videos on Face Book? Yes, occasionally we may be able to congratulate a friend’s achievement, wish someone a happy birthday or offer our condolences to someone who has lost a loved one but does the time we spend browsing Face Book really allow us to serve others as Jesus served us? And how much of what is posted or reported is actually perpetuating harmful or cynical gossip, someone’s opinion, reality TV, or sensationalized news stories?
And are the opinions posted on Face book becoming “the truth”and accepted social norms? Do we believe something is right because we saw it on TV or social media, or because “everyone else seems to be doing it (because I can prove it by what is posted and reposted)?”

Heavenly Father, you gave us two commands, to love you and to love others. Help me to do more than just read and watch others who spread what appears to be the truth, but rather to be motivated and inspired to share your truth and to be your servant with my hands and my feet. Help me to open my eyes to Your truth, and to be ready with a listening ear and a willing heart so that my time will be spent sharing and caring with original truth—Your truth. May I see in others as the organic face of You. Amen.
Is my truth organic or processed? Will I take the time to be the organic hands and face of Jesus this week or will my reality be manufactured and processed?
Blessings,
Charlotte

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