by Sharon Purce

Created on: February 10, 2009

Tolerance and Truth

When I see the word tolerance, I visualize restraint, withdrawal, hesitation, compromise, conscious decision making and a possible breach in honesty, integrity and honor. In contrast, the word "truth" suggests strength, self-acceptance, loyalty, value- consciousness, mature moral awareness, confidence and an ever present lack of fear in standing alone. In inventorying my past I can clearly see the existence of tolerance as a rule of thumb. I was born into tolerance, raised in tolerance and learned the art of tolerance. This creative art of tolerance grew to be so ingrained that eventually it was a way of life so comfortable that passing its ideals on to friends, family and subsequent offspring became the natural thing to do.I tolerated others' feelings, others' facts, others' concepts of religions, varying environments, schoolings ... the list is endless. In time my feelings, facts, ideas,behaviors, etc. meshed so easily with those around me and/or "in charge" that I could no longer distinguish any boundaries. Without visible warning, this creative art transformed itself into a painfully emotional state of creative self-abuse. I lost myself. I no longer knew what "I" as an individual thought, felt, wanted, believed or knew.

Then truth surfaced. It crept in through the cracks and crevices of the walls of pain which I had so skillfully built. As it re-lit a tiny little corner of my soul, it uncovered a spirit of doubt. (Doubt can be both positive and beneficial, you know.) That one spark ignited my "power of choice" cells and assured me that I not only had the ability to question but the absolute right to inquire - about anything - everything. Somewhere I had developed the ideology of judgment, even contempt, prior to investigation was a pre-requisite on the road to success. Once truth reared its beautiful head, I realized that I had been operating in reverse - that, for me, investigation needed to be the pre-requisite. As I tested the waters with question after question, I discovered that most of my values, methodology, approaches to situations, answers to parenting dilemmas, religious views, etc. were no longer applicable, difficult to adhere to and certainly not in keeping with the real truth.

I began to research the truth. I re-discovered The Word in its everlasting printed form. I read. I made inquiries to predecessors and was directed to places where I might find answers. Over the past few years, I have realized that the answers were there

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