Be Careful, Please

My younger self had no clue what the early history of my nation was. I believed what I was taught without questioning. I didn't know enough to know there were any other sources to learn from than what I was taught, until I had children and read some books I hadn't read before. 

Whoa. What was this history? WHAT?!? This isn't what I was taught. Time and time again this would happen to me. Time and again I would discover what I was taught was incorrect. There are credible sources of truth, but they weren't used to write the version I learned.  

My husband had learned a much more accurate version of history and greatly helped me sort through lies and false narratives. Over and over again I have had to research sources and content  in order to verify I was using a perspective that was more accurate than not. 

Reading people's articles and opinions today feels very much like those early days of truth learning. There are perspectives that are rooted in truth, and there are others that are, well, not so much. I don't have to read very far into an article or letter to an editor before knowing who has learned a false narrative and who knows a version closer to truth. 

My husband says it's pretty easy to tell who has "drunk the Koolaid" and who hasn't. He is right. 

It makes me sad to realize so many people have been lied to and believe those lies with all their heart. I think of the anger and grief they will experience when truth is revealed. How betrayed they will feel.  There will be a lot of people in need of comfort and patience when the propaganda has been exposed for what it really is. 

When I think of all of the people who will be learning truth as I still am learning, it makes me want to develop and grow in grace and peaceful endurance. I find myself desiring a greater depth of emotional resilience so I can offer the strength others will desperately need when the lies are laid bare. 

As we all walk into a new season, one none of us have ever lived through before, may each one of us extend and receive grace, peace, and loving patience. May we love freely with strength and endurance. We're all going to need it. 

May we also know these truths:

• God is
• God is real
• God is good
• God loves each one of us
• God cares for us well, no matter what others may say

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