Looking for Truth in All the Wrong Places

Hyperbolic language on both sides of society’s current divide astounds.

I learned in creative writing that a passive voice doesn’t create an interesting or engaging narrative - you need an active voice with verbs like “ripped through” and adjectives like “devastating” and “earth-shattering”. It not only makes for more interesting reading, it’s also more persuasive, however subtly so.

In journalism classes we learned this language is best used in opinion pieces and the good old editorial, but for news reporting we were told to just give the objective facts, please. I rarely read a “news” story now that seems to fit this criterion; I think if I had turned in news stories like the ones I read today I wouldn’t have liked my grade.

After living overseas for 14 years, being in America at such a time as this is literally over the top with overwhelm (yes, that word can indeed be used as noun these days) and total flabbergast.

The hyperbolic language has always been a red flag, a warning to take information presented with a grain of salt (i.e. credibility loses out here)... Social media has been lit up lately with so many well-intentioned friends sharing information that seriously questions the mainstream narrative, while other well-meaning friends post information to rebut. To be frankly honest, none of it sounds completely truthful as one “expert” after another is rolled out for us to listen to.

How can one side hold the claim to science unequivocally while the other side uses science as well to raise questions that many out there are asking? “Experts,” who seem to have their own agendas, are touted on both sides. But, we can all check the facts and data and interpretations for ourselves, right? We should. We have to.

It seems the one who raises serious questions or suspicions becomes an “uneducated, money-greedy conspiracy theorist.” While those that follow the party line become “mindless receptacles of propaganda.” Honestly, it seems that more and more people are looking for someone to adequately engage in the complexity of all that’s going on, because the accepted narrative refuses to.

I have to admit, I’ve spent much of today shaking my head as I try to focus on packing boxes. How to keep moving forward to the future amidst the overwhelm (there’s that word again!)?

To wrap up my day I reflect on what James (who walked with Jesus) said nearly 2,000 years ago: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault.”

And then, the wisest king that ever lived (enshrined that way in history) wrote a whole book on the subject: “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” He also says, “A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.”

The day is coming to end, and I’m thankful I can count on God giving me the wisdom I need for tomorrow.