Why is truth worthwhile?

by Stan Faryna

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The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Oh Happy Day

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In the midst of snowfall, I pondered truth this morning and why I desire it. And why we should desire truth.

I would like to characterize my hunger for the truth – as a pleasure I enjoy in discovering reality as it can be apprehended or received by rational and other means. I find myself most enthusiastic about truth when I act in wisdom – when I apply my knowledge usefully and successfully for my or others benefit.

Sometimes, those benefits can be as ridiculous as vanity – my own petty self satisfaction that I know better than another. I regret and struggle to renounce this sin of pride as much as possible.

But my greater pleasure, I believe, derives from an uplifting experience when I discover that reality is more beautiful and larger than I (or others) had previously understood.

For example, that our dignity as human persons exceeds the apparently arbitrary values we find assigned to a person within human culture. Specifically in the instance of a victim of human trafficking, slavery, abuse, exploitive labor, murder, or rape. Or in the existential experience of rejection – hate, discrimination, disability, disease, alienation, flight, immigration, diaspora, etc.

I rejoice to know that we are more than our failure, sorrows, pain and shame. And I anticipate with great hope and faith when we will arrive at that uncompromised and joyful experience of ourselves (and each another) as more.

Much more.

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Stan Faryna
13 February 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

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