“A man's private thought can never be a lie; what he thinks, is to him the truth . . . always.”
--- Mark Twain quotes (Renowned American Humorist, Author and Lecturer. 1835-1910)
"What is the truth, Joe?" Hillary Hedgehog whined in frustration. "I mean THE truth? I can't seem to make up my mind on what to believe."
Joe Rabbit thought carefully for a moment then replied, "Well ... do you really think there is only one truth? After all . . . you were quite accurate when you said, 'I can't seem to make up my mind' about it. That's really all there is to it."
"But that's rhetorical", snapped Hillary. "How does that help anyone? Most folks don't have a clue about what to believe. They need guidance. No one automatically knows how to KNOW."
"They do know ... " smiled Joe, "The trouble is, they've been pursuaded out of knowing."
Hillary eyed Joe suspiciously. "How so?"
"As little ones, we all had to learn how to follow the rules of the family and be obedient - or else we wouldn't get our needs met. Who would feed us? Clothe us? Protect us from harm? Even though some of those 'rules' were inappropriate, unnecessary, smothering or outdated, we complied or else we would suffer the consequences - maybe even die. It's as simple as that.
"Then when we grew up and left home," continued Joe, "that obedience and compliance extended into the larger world and all those additional rules and expectations of society."
"Yeah ... I've heard it all before and it makes sense," sighed Hillary. "But where does knowing THE truth fit into all of this?"
"As souls we already know. But as creatures with physical bodies . . . " Joe lamented, " . . . we forget. Its more than that, though. Its learning about the truths that apply to whatever happens to be going on in our lives in each moment."
"Oh . . . I don't understand," whimpered Hillary.
Joe thought for a moment then went on, "Well ... look at it this way. Lets say that through and through you have the heart and soul of a true hedgehog. Ok with you?"
"Sure. I like being a hedgehog," Hillary eyes twinkled sweetly.
"Great. Now let's say that you were sent to a faraway land to live among Giraffes and learn their ways . . . "
"That's silly!" Hillary interrupted, "Why would a hedgehog hang out with Giraffes?"
"I'm going some where with this ... so be patient." He looked hopefully at Hillary as she rolled her eyes to the sky but then gave a nod for Joe to continue.
Joe readied himself to tell the parable about truth. And this is what Hillary heard that day:
"Okay. So here you are ... among Giraffes. You don't know their language and you don't know their ways. It's also a foreign land and you don't know anything about how to live there. So what do you do?
"I start asking a lot of questions!" replied Hillary all wide-eyed with curiosity.
"But what if you can't ask any questions because you don't speak Giraffe .... and they don't speak Hedgehog. You're surrounded by Giraffes ... and since there are far more of them it doesn't seem practical for them to learn Hedgehog. So you are forced - in a way - to learn their language so you can understand their explanations and descriptions of what it's like to live there and how they live their lives.
"From then on, you spend almost all your waking hours learning their language, learning about the land and learning about the kinds of food available, as well as the type of weather. You also learn about the dangers: what to watch out for and how to avoid the predatory animals.
"In fact, you spend so much time learning about the ways of Giraffes in order to survive that you begin to forget what it was like to be a hedgehog. And since the Giraffes are very successful at being Giraffes, you begin to wonder what was so special about being a Hedgehog in the first place.
"You begin to doubt that being a Hedgehog had any value at all. In fact, you start to forget that loving your Hedghogy-ness was your truth.
"The Giraffes believe that the best edibles are at the tops of the trees - and so they spend a lot of time with their heads high up on the tops of tallest trees happily nibbling on the tender leaves and blossoms that they find up there.
"And so the Giraffes insist that, "the absolute truth of the matter is that the tastiest, most nutritious edibles are at the tops of the trees and if anyone tells you differently, they're disillusioned."
"Of course, you can't reach the tops of the trees: you're a hedgehog. And even though you've accepted yourself all along as a hedgehog - and was very happy being just that - living among Giraffes in a foreign land is beginning to erode the confidence you once had in being a hedgehog. It all starts to become rather confusing.
"Along with that, when the Giraffes want to move from one place to the next, they stride swiftly on long, limber legs and get to the next place very quickly ... while you waddle along on short, stubby little legs that get you there hours after the Giraffes have long arrived . . . "
A little annoyed . . . Hillary squinted at Joe. But eager to know the rest of the story, resisted the temptation to defend the virtues of Hedgehog-y-ness.
"You can see for yourself . . . ", Joe went on, ". . . just how happy the Giraffes are and you see them easily getting their needs met. Nevertheless, you remember a time and place somewhere else where there were yummy and nutritious edibles at ground level hidden under the lowest leaves and vines . You remember being happy and content with what you had. But the Giraffes know nothing about the tasty edibles that grow so low to the ground - and so they can't tell you where to find them. They even doubt that such edibles exist at all since they have never seen them.
"And so, you settle for what you can find close to the ground in this land of Giraffes: but everything that you find is unfamiliar and rather bland for a Hedgehogs taste buds. All the while you watch the Giraffes easily get at their favorite food. You watch them for months then years ... and slowly ... gradually ... you begin to envy those Giraffes and wish you could be more like them. You may even try to emulate them ... much to the dismay - and sometimes even humor - of those watching.
"You try to climb your way to the tops of those trees . . . which usually ends in great exhaustion and not much achieved to show for all your hard work. You even try numerous ways to stretch and lengthen your short, stout little hedgehog neck.
"You try more and more ways to be like the Giraffes, act like them and even to look like them. Since you can't change the nature of who you are, however, you begin to think of yourself as broken, useless and unworthy. It gets harder and harder to get a sense of your value because you keep comparing yourself to the Giraffes.
"Along with that, you've made little or no effort to find other Hedgehogs . . . and so you forget more and more. All that you ever knew about being a hedgehog becomes a vague dream.
"Even when you try to tell the Giraffes about the virtues of being a Hedgehog and how wonderful and beautiful life can be at ground level ... they all laugh while accusing you of being weird, crazy or delusionary.
"So at this point I ask you, dear Hillary, "Joe smiled softly," Who in this story has THE truth?"
"Hmmmmm ... I see what you mean, "Hillary was most thoughtful now and her eyes were wide with a deeper realization. "I had truth because I knew what life was like from my point of view. And the Giraffes had truth because they knew the world from their experience. But it seemed like their truth was more true because there were more of them who believed the same way ... and there was only one of me. I had forgotten what it was like to be happy being a hedgehog and to live among other hedgehogs."
"Now you're getting the picture," Joe brightened enthusiastically.
"But isn't there such a thing as THE truth. I mean . . . well . . . here we are on earth in different shapes and sizes with different tastes and viewpoints. If we want to live a Giraffe-kind-of-life . . . we become a Giraffe, live among Giraffes and do Giraffe-type things. If we want a Hedgehog-kind-of-life . . . we become a Hedgehog and do Hedgehog-type things . . . so on and so forth . . . " Hillary's face twisted into comical puzzlement.
"On the other hand . . . " Hillary went on, "we all have bodies. We all have to search for food, eat, sleep and need play. We all hurt when injured. We all cry when sad and laugh when we're amused. We all want to be loved and safe and happy. There seems to be certain things that are true for everyone ... right?"
"There are such things as Personal Truths, Shared Truths and Absolute Truths," Joe stated confidently. "For instance, we all came from the same Cosmic Source - call it God or Creator if you wish. That's an Absolute Truth and a fact for everyone and everything. That Light of Truth lives in each one of us like a divine spark - acknowledged or not, large or small it is a force that unites us one and all.
"Then there are the Shared Truths that are shared by all folks that live on the planet: like the sun shines everyday and the earth turns and creates day and night. Or if you fall from a tree you'll hit the ground because of gravity. Or if you don't have enough oxygen to breathe or enough nutrients, you'll wither and die. Or if you don't have adequate shelter or protection you increase your chances of being harmed. Or if you don't respect Mother Earth and abuse Her generosity, there are consequences that can affect everyone else on the planet.
"These are the "laws" - so to speak - that apply to living here on earth in this particular dimensional reality that everyone has to deal with regardless of whether you're a Hedgehog, a Giraffe, a Rabbit or a Worm.
"The Personal Truths are the ones that are true for each individual. And they are important. The world you see as a Hedgehog is your truth. And when you have peace of mind and are genuinely content to be the best Hedgehog you can be, then you're being natural and nothing can shake your faith in that part of you that is authentic and eternally connected to the Cosmic Source.
"The only time you'll ever goof-up is when you try to be a Giraffe . . . or a Squirrel . . . or a Duck . . . instead of being true to yourself. In those cases, you'll only end up feeling empty, unfullfilled and disappointed.
"And as long as you keep trying to live some one else's truth - something other than what is natural and authentic for you - you will be unhappy." Joe studied Hillary in hopeful anticipation.
"Sounds like wise advice," admitted Hillary. "I think that if everyone discovered what their true nature is and come to love that about themselves, that there would be a lot more happiness and peace in the world."
Joe heaved a great sigh. "True. Most are quite busy trying to be someone or something they're not. They spend a lot of time and effort trying to convince others - even themselves - of something that isn't really true. And even though they may have moments of happiness and peace of mind . . . it's mostly fleeting because they're not truly content with who and what they are."
Hillary started to walk away in deep thought then suddenly turned around and asked, "Oh ... and about that Giraffe story ... why is it that I was sent there in the first place?"
Joe grinned his famous big toothy grin and replied, "To learn your truth, to believe in yourself and to express your real nature; to know and appreciate your self-worth and value . . . regardless of what others think.
"It's the path of true liberation and freedom. It's the direct line to the Cosmic Source of All That Is. You'll see."
Older Woman: "I'd give it to you but I don't have one."
Officer: "You don't have a license? "
Older Woman: "Lost it four years ago for drunk driving."
Officer: "I see . . . can I see your vehicle registration please."
Older Woman: "I can't do that. "
Officer: "Why not? "
Older Woman: "I stole this car."
Officer: "Stole it? "
Older Woman: "Yes . . . and I killed and hacked up the owner."
Officer: "You what? "
Older Woman: "Sure. His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you
want
to take a look."
Alarmed at the woman's claims, the officer slowly backs away to his car and calls
headquarters for back up. Within minutes five police cars appear and circle the car. A senior officer
slowly approaches the woman, clasping his half drawn gun.
Senior Officer: "Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please!"
The woman
steps out of her vehicle.
Older Woman: "Is there a problem sir?"
Senior Officer: "One of my officers said that you have stolen this car and
murdered the owner."
Older Woman: "Murdered the owner? "
Senior Officer: "Yes. Open the trunk of your car, please."
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Senior Officer: "Is this your car, ma'am?"
Older Woman: "Yes . . . here are the registration papers."
The first officer is
quite
stunned at this point.
Senior Officer: "One of my officers claims that you do not have a drivers
license."
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out her driver's license and hands
it over to the Senior officer.
He examines the license and looks quite puzzled.
Senior Officer: "Thank you ma'am. One of my officers told me you didn't have
a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner."
Older Woman: "Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too."
MORAL:
Don't Mess With Little Old Ladies
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funny photos
Old Uncle Rhufus is up to his usual monkey tricks . . .
We need a bigger boat. Going surfin' anyone?
Fancy pearls do not a glamor puss make ... but it sure can help.
LEARNING FROM INNOCENCE . . .
Ever notice how young animals - and young children - have not yet learned to be
afraid of - nor hostile toward - racial differences?
LIVE LONG AND PROSPER
