Truth Sessions, Vol. 4: Jackson Pearce

The Truth Sessions are back! If you're new to my blog, the Truth Sessions is a series I started a few months ago in which I interview people from all different walks of life about truth: whether they think universal truths exist, what in their life has led them to their beliefs about truth, what truths they see most prevalent in the world, etc.

Today's featured answer-er is Jackson Pearce, an author who's written several really creative young adult books including SISTERS RED, SWEETLY, and her upcoming contemporary novel, PURITY. She's also what I would consider a world-class hoola-hooper and owns a pet she refers to as Space Dog. So yeah, she's pretty cool.

I loved reading her perspective on truth. She brought up some very thoughtful, interesting points (while still managing to make it humorous), and I'm excited to share them with you guys.

I asked her my short list of questions about truth (you can read them all in Volume 3 here), and she wrote back one comprehensive answer (complete with visual aids!).

So instead of trying to format it like the others, I will just share with you her thoughts. Hope you enjoy!

Jackson:  I believe in them [universal truths], and believe that we're searching for them, and believe that we only know of one for certain.

Broken down:

I believe in them- I believe that there is something bigger than me-- maybe that's God, maybe it's a flying spaghetti monster, maybe it's just a heaven where belief in God requires just as much faith as it does here on good ol' earth. I believe that Anne Frank was right and all people really are good at heart. I believe that we're all created equal and that double parkers deserve their own circle of hell. And in love and kindness and honor and sex and dignity and all sorts of other delightful things.

In fact, I believe those things are universal truths so strongly that even using the phrase "I believe" seems silly-- it's like saying "I believe I have feet!" or "I believe in oxygen!" But that said, I wager that somewhere out there, there's a person who wouldn't categorize "I believe in something bigger than myself" alongside "I believe in oxygen." Somewhere out there is a person that would categorize "I believe in something bigger than myself" alongside "I believe in el chupacabra."*

Which brings me to my second point...

I believe we're searching for them- While there are dozens of things that, to me, are undeniably universal truths, at the end those truths are little more than the thoughts of a twenty-something writer who is having bacon for dinner (again).

I can probably gather a small crowd of other bacon-eaters recognize the same truths, but still, my Bacon Buddies and I are no universe-- we're just people who happen to think alike. If there are seven of us or seven billion of us, it really doesn't make a difference-- we're mere mortals and those truths we find so undeniable are our opinions, thoughts, and beliefs, and likely vary wildly from the opinions, thoughts, and beliefs of other mere mortals. We can cluster together and give ourselves a name and try to convince the rest of the world that we're right, but let's face it-- we could be incorrect.

Because a universal truth, by its very definition, is something that exists whether people know about it or not, whether they're right about it or not, whether they love or hate or eat bacon or not. To acknowledge a universal truth exists means to acknowledge that it's very possible you're totally wrong about what it is.

Basically: Truths are a constant, but humans are not. And so we look and look and look for other humans that have more answers than we do, we search for signs and stars and scrolls, we wage wars and commit genocides and pay scientists to do incredibly awesome things, all in the search for those universal truths because, while we can't all agree on what they are, we can all agree that they are The Most Important thing.

The one we know:

In our struggle to identify what truths are, we've landed on one truth that we can identify: That everyone is looking for the truth. It's in our longing to understand the universal and ourselves better that we are undeniably all in the same boat with no clue what river we're on or how to paddle or if we're pirates or the cast of Deadliest Catch. Which, really, is a beautiful thing. We pervert it and make it ugly sometimes, but really, in the immortal words of the first High School Musical movie, we're all in this together.

LM: So, based on your answer, could a truth exist if no one believed it or knew about it? Since a truth is a principle/idea, doesn't someone have to know it or believe it for it to exist? If not, does that assume there is something outside of the population of the world (God, or other beings in the universe---since you mentioned that you and your group are no universe) that attest to it?

Jackson: I think a truth could absolutely exist if no on believed it or knew about it, but that's unfortunately a very "if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?" question. A truth is a principle/idea, so perhaps some truths might only exist if someone believes in them (no examples come to mind, alas), but if we're speaking on religious terms...wouldn't most followers of a particular faith say that the existence of a totally ignorant non-believer doesn't make their faith any less true. I don't think a truth requires anyone-- God, man, el chupacabra-- to attest to it. It's a truth, it's bigger, in a way, than all of those things (though in the case of God, I suppose it depends on your definition and faith-- though I feel it's fair to argue that a universal truth is in the very least bigger than man's understanding of God which is naturally somewhat limited since, well...we're man and he's God).

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I love her observation that we're all searching for truth. I think that definitely applies across the board---especially at our age.

What do you think? Could a truth still exist even if no one believes in it or knows about it (yet)? As always, please remember to be respectful of each other's views in the comments! Thanks!

For more musings from Jackson, check her out on Twitter or her video blogs on YouTube. Visit her website to learn more about (and buy!) her books.

You can read the intro and first three volumes of The Truth Sessions here: Introduction   Nicole White   Collin Brace   Melissa McCall

The Truth Sessions, Vol. 3

Welcome to Volume 3 of The Truth Sessions! If you're just joining me on this little journey, The Truth Sessions is a series I started in which I ask people from all different walks of life their perspectives on truth and the role it plays in our lives. So far, I've interviewed Nicole White  and Collin Brace. Both had really interesting takes on the questions I asked, and I really enjoyed reading their thoughts, as I hope you did too!

Today I bring you answers from Melissa McCall. Melissa and her husband Barry lead a marriage mentor small group my husband and I are in. She is a mother of three kids (around my age), turns ordinary furniture into Pinterest-worthy works of art, and her e-mail address includes the phrase "momdabomb," which I think is awesome. I'm excited to share her perspective with you!

Do you believe in the existence of universal truths (that apply to all people)? Yes

What do you think truth is? Truth is an indisputable fact, proposition or principle.  It is the same over time, in all situations and does not shift.

Do you think truth is important? Why or why not?  Yes, I believe that truth is very important.  Truth forms my attitudes and beliefs, drives my purpose and mission, helps me to form my conviction and morality and affects my choices and behaviors.  Without truth, I would be like the shifting sand. I would live my life in a state of uncertainty and disorder.

What experiences in your life have led to your beliefs about truth? Obviously when we are young, many inputs in our world will contribute to what we believe to be true.  As humans, we will adjust facts or principles to often times "fit" our own agenda.  I believe that people often confuse the idea of truth with actual truth. If I based my whole belief about truth on science, I will find that scientists are changing what they have discovered or trying to disprove what I was once told was true.  If I put my belief about truth in the  hands of society, I will see that laws will change and social norms will evolve.By nature, I am a person who believes the best about people or situations.  I tend to trust people and situations at face value (or what I believed to be true). I have been disappointed many times when what I wanted to believe was true (an ideal, a promise, a person) ends up failing or being not at all what I thought it to be.  So, as I look back on my life, the one truth that I can point to, and that has not disappointed, is the truth of God's word. It is the one anchor on which I have been able to depend.

What is a statement, ideal, or principle about the human experience you have found to be proven most true throughout your life?  People all struggle to be "in control" of their lives.  I have learned that I cannot control all aspects of my life or another persons life.  If I do not lean upon something more powerful than myself, this world or the circumstances around me, I will fall into despair.  It is in those times when I finally let go of the control and let God be God in my life that I experience peace.  His ways are not always my ways, but His ways are always best for me.

I love her answer to the last question in particular. I definitely struggle with the desire to have control over my life.

Do you ever struggle to be in control of your life? If so, how?

The Truth Sessions, Vol. 2

Previously, on The Truth Sessions... I interviewed one of my very best friends, Nicole. You can see her answers here.

If you're just tuning in, (like all these old school T.V. references?) The Truth Sessions is a blog series I started a couple weeks ago. I am going to ask all kinds of people the same set of questions regarding truth and the role it plays in our stories, and see what comes out of it. I thought it would be interesting to hear all different perspectives on the subject.

This week I bring you thoughts from Collin Brace. I know Collin and his delightful wife, Katie, through my church. Collin works at a record label and is also the lead singer in a [ridiculously awesome] band called The CO. He's a stellar songwriter and, as all great songwriters are, a passionate person. Also, I learned from him that male bears sometimes do handstands against trees and see who can pee the highest. So there's that.

Here are Collin's answers to my questions:

Do you believe in absolute truth?

Yes (and No)

Truth to me is Jesus Christ. I believe there are physical truths with earthly constraints like gravity, pain, death and life. I believe in moral truths across the board but founded in scripture, which I believe is the litmus of all truth. I however don't believe things that are true in my life are true in others, for example: parents, love, joy, emotions of fear and success. Universally, these items exist in some form or another to everyone, but they don’t live in the same truth as everyone else. I had Godly parents growing up, but some of my friends did not. My emotions and truths about fear and joy are worlds different than my wife's.

This is why writing a great song is so difficult. You see I can easily write something that is focused on my truths, but a great songwriter broadens the scope to a relatable universal truth that isn't constrained to just his or her personal truth. Some may think that this limits the subject you can write about, and it would if you only stuck to the physical world... my loophole is my first truth, Jesus Christ.

If I'm writing about His truths by way of the personal experiences I've had about truth in my own life, then chances are I'm going to hit a heart chord with a broader emotion. In short, I want to use the truth Christ has proved in my life specifically to be a testament to Christ's truth to the world.

Do you think truth is important? Why or why not?

I think truth is so important. Like I said, I think truth is Jesus Christ and with out that truth as an anchor in your life, you might as well be lost as sea without a compass. Truths hold the world we see together... in place. When you think truth is one thing for a long time and you find out later it’s been a lie, how does your life react? Most of us fall apart, hide, tell another lie to keep us going... truth is important us because without it, we will naturally live in a false reality and ultimately live lost and hurt lives.

What experiences in your life have led to your beliefs about truth?

The fall of the entire existence of man is the result of believing a lie, I can't name one good thing or hurdle I've overcome where I didn't have to face a lie first. I've lived in lies in lengths of 26 years (my whole life). When you experience life on the dark side of a lie for a long time, it’s hard to turn down the freedom in truth when you experience it.

What is a statement, ideal, or principle about the human experience you have found to be proven most true throughout your life?

Love when love is hard, believe when faith is at its toughest pinnacle, and fight for joy. These three things have kept me going for a long time. I've also lived by the statement I heard one time "all noble things are difficult."

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Fight for joy. I love that.

Did anything in Collin's answers resonate with you? Do you disagree with any of his answers? I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments.

The Truth Sessions, Vol. 1

Welcome to the first in my blog series I've deemed "The Truth Sessions." In a nutshell, this is the deal: I've come up with a handful of questions to ask people of many different walks of life---all pertaining to truth. I love getting to know people's stories, and I also am very interested in how truth plays into the chaos and noise of our culture. Through this series, I hope to tell a small piece of others' stories, as well as share their perspectives on truth and the role it plays their life and the lives of others.

This week's featured answer-er is one of my very best friends, Nicole. I won't always be interviewing people I know, in order to get differing perspectives, but I thought it'd be a good place to start.

Nicole---for those of you who don't know her---is a 24-year-old writer, grad student, residence director and modern-day abolitionist, and she is one of the most compassionate people I've ever met. (I've also seen her do the Soulja Boy in its entirety.) Here are her answers to the questions I asked:

Do you believe in the existence of universal truths?

Yes, I do believe in universal, or absolute, truth. Basic logic tells us that that for a statement to be true, it must always be true, or at least not able to be contradicted. Saying, "There is no absolute truth." is an assertion of an absolutely true statement and is, in itself, a contradiction, therefore, basic logic tells us that there must be at least some absolute truth.

What do you think truth is?

I think of universal truth as a form of happening and existence. The saying goes that there are three types of truth: the actual truth, the truth you perceive and the truth others perceive. I think the term "truth" gets a little muddy sometimes, so I think that it's important to make a distinction between universal truth--meaning consistent ideals or existencing being/bodies-- and perceived truth--meaning feelings, memories, or experiences.

Do you think truth is important? Why or Why not?

Despite the different variables different situations may provide, I think that the power of truth is unlike any other. I think it's important to examine the gray areas of "truth," but complete all discussions on truth with a big, "BUT..." because truth exists as truth despite our perception or attempts to grapple with it.

I think a great resource for this might be the chapter "How to Tell a True War Story" from the book The Things They Carried. (Warning for you: Rated R.) Also, Mere Christianity.

What experiences in your life have led to your beliefs about truth?

I think the only word I can use to sum it up is peace. I feel a great sense of peace when I experience what I feel is truth and  feel a great sense of unrest when I encounter anything that conflicts with my understanding of what is right and wrong.

What is a statement, ideal or principle about the human experience you have found to be proven most true throughout your life?

Truths like, "Jesus Christ died to save you from you sin" and "God is with you always" have been very important to me in my life and have created the frame of reference from which I operate and see the world. Something about deep seeded, unchangeable truth, especially truth that speaks to our deepest needs and our deepest hurts, changes us. Something within us longs for absolute truth and for an understanding of right and wrong. As a Christian, I feel that it's the calling of Christ to restore us back to our true roles as humans, but even within out an affiliation with Christ or the church, I feel that it's undeniably true that we are born with an inherent sense of right and wrong, true and untrue, and although our experiences and stages of development may interpret it differently, the truths still exist.

Feedback request: Does this series interest you? Are there any questions you think I missed? Is there anything about Nicole's answers that resonated with you? Is 4 questions at the end of a post too many? :)

Thanks, Nicole, for being my first interview!

To read my introduction to this blog series, click here.

The Truth Sessions, Introduction

I don't usually talk to people on elevators. Why? Because I'm terrible at small talk. I've gotten better over the years out of necessity, but honestly, I usually just end up grinding the conversation to a halt when strangers try to strike one up out of the blue.

When I get on an elevator, if someone says anything other than "Hi" or "How are you?" more often than not, I am totally thrown for a loop.

Well-intentioned remarks like "Oh, can't be doin' that!" (in reference to my yawning) or "Man, those people drive me crazy!" are usually just met with a forced nervous laughter and/or a "yeah" on my part for lack of anything to say in response. Yep, terrible. (As a side note, this is probably one of the many things I trace back to going to school with the same 34 people for 12 years. I didn't have to meet new people until I was 18. It was then I found out I was bad at it.)

My lack of ability to talk about the weather with strangers, I think, is influenced by my desire to really know people and skip past all that. When I meet a new group of people, I can't wait for the point in time where we know what is going on in each other's lives and can really be honest with each other.

In congruence with my desire to know people's stories, I had an idea to do a blog series in which I interview people from all walks of life and share their perspectives on a specific topic, asking them each the same set of questions.

The topic I chose to focus on is truth. Over the last couple of years, I've become more and more aware of the noise and fluidity of our culture, and the role truth plays is becoming harder and harder to define. Finding solid ground amid the chaos and commotion of life and culture has become important to me. This, combined with the fact that people have hugely different views on truth today made me interested to hear what other people have to say on the topic.

The series I'm starting will henceforth be known as "The Truth Sessions." Admittedly a little cheesy, but it was the best I could come up with. Plus "The Truth Project" is apparently already a thing.

Anyway, like I said, in this series, I'll be attempting to ask people from many walks of life the same set of 4-5 questions pertaining to truth. Some may believe in universal truth, some may not. I hope I have compiled questions that will allow both types of people to answer.

Through this series I hope to share a handful of different perspectives and stories, but also dig deeper into the idea of truth and its role in our lives. The question I'm most excited to hear people's answers to is: what is a statment, ideal or principle you have found to be most true about the human experience throughout your life? For example, mine would be: that people just want to feel loved and known. The more stories I hear (whether uplifting or heart-wrenching) seem to always come back to that fact. (As a Christian, I feel that also points to our universal need for Christ.)

But that's just my answer. I want to hear others'.

My goal is to post once a week in this series, each with a new set of answers from a new person.

Stay tuned for the first edition next week!

Let me know what you think about the concept in the comments--I'd love your feedback. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!