I have been feasting of late on Marilyn Chandler McEntyre's Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies. She exhorts all of us -- and most especially writers -- to consider language a precious resource that we are called to steward with faithfulness and wisdom. In a chapter entitled "Tell the Truth" she provides this thought-provoking list about some of the things the truth is ... and isn't.
Truth is elusive.
Truth avoids institutional control.
Truth tugs at conventional syntax.
Truth hovers at the edge of the visual field.
Truth is relational.
Truth lives in the library and on the subway.
Truth is not two-sided; it's many-sided.
Truth burrows in the body.
Truth flickers.
Truth comes on little cat's feet, and down back alleys.
Truth doesn't always test well.
Truth invites you back for another look.
Tell the truth today, whenever and however you can. I have it on good authority that the truth can even set you free!
Carolyn Arends
Coming next week to an e-reader near you ... watch www.carolynarends.com for details!
3 comments:
Hmm. Thought-provoking lines from Ms. McEntyre, for sure.
And Carolyn, congratulations on your upcoming C.T. e-book of your columns -- that's great!
Thanks Peter!
Carolyn, I've been hearing and seeing this theme everywhere lately. Hmm, is God trying to say something to me? Or rather, is he saying it and trying to get me to notice? I hope you see this comment... it's a bit late. I do read all the posts here, but sometimes it takes me a few days to get to them and catch up. I love the poem (or whatever it is) about truth.
Thanks for the thought provoking post.
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