The Granite Walls of Reality

"Truth and life must conquer, and their victory is nearest when they cease to be encumbered with the grave clothes of conventionalism and pretense. It is delicious to put one's foot through the lath and plaster of old affectations, to make room for the granite walls of reality. This has been a main design with me, and may God send success to the effort." -Charles Spurgeon

"Because of rebellion, the Lord's people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground." -Daniel

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." -Jesus

"No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth." -Plato

I've been accused of being a "truth guy", and it has come at no small cost. But I know of no other way. I find that the pessimist lacks hope altogether, and the optimist offers false hope in the form of toxic positivity. The realists seem harder and harder to find. The realists are out there, but their voices are often suffocated by those spewing fear or toxic positivity.

Give me the Truth. Tell me the Truth. This is the cry of my soul. The fear of man and fear of consequence are powerful forces, leading us to say or ask the polite thing instead of the obvious thing. Our relationships grow shallow, and love grows cold. Small talk prevails. The forecast or the score of the game dominates our conversations. Our joys, frustrations, hopes, and dreams remain in isolation. Tom Cruise was right. We can't handle the truth.

But the granite wall of reality remains the same: The Truth will set you free.