Truth and Satisfaction

Last fall schoolwork had me studying American Literature. Assignments from one week brought selections from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. While reading the introduction to this key collection of poetry, I came across the following quote:

"Whatever satisfies the soul is truth."

I don't know how it strikes you, but I actually find that I could agree completely with Whitman. Some of you might be disagree with me, and not without good reason. After all, hasn't Whitman in those six words summed up the idea of Relativism? This is a question which is worth a closer look.

By way of background, relativism is the belief that there are no absolutes. Usually the term is used in reference to moral absolutes, but it can be used to refer to a belief about the nature of absolute truth in general. Other statements which epitomize this idea of relativism include:

• "Whatever floats your boat"
• "It's all good"
• "Who are we to judge"
• "There is no right and wrong"
• "Just because it's true for you doesn't mean it is true for me"

Read Whitman's statement again and notice his standard for truth: "Whatever satisfies the soul." If what satisfies us is the determining factor in what is true, than there is no firm definition for truth. After all, we are all satisfied by different things. In some areas, these sources of satisfaction can be contradictory (for instance, my love for coffee and other's pitiable distaste for it). If truth can be both "a" and "not a" at the same time, it really isn't true or a guide for life.

Given this argument, why I would agree with Whitman's statement? The answer to that question lies in definition.

What do we mean when we say "whatever satisfies the soul?" From the perspective of the Bible, the only thing which will satisfy our soul is living in line with God's plan for the world. "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4 ESV)

With this definition of satisfaction, Whitman's statement makes perfect sense. After all, there is only one time we are ever truly happy in this world, when our lives align with the Truth. It logically follows that the more joy we have in our lives, the closer we are to living the Truth.

But that's the rub. Most of us want to define satisfaction for ourselves. Because of the fall, we think that we know what is best for ourselves...and it definitely is not what God wants for us. By pretending that we can define what brings happiness, we end up running from our most fulfilling satisfaction. C.S. Lewis puts it this way in the Screwtape Letters: "...we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever-increasing craving for an ever-diminishing pleasure is the formula. It is more certain; and it's better style. To get the man's soul and give him nothing in return..."

In the end, Whitman's quote seems to hold out both a promise and a warning. It promises us that Truth and pleasure enter our lives hand in hand, and that having one will include having the other. However, it warns us that aside from God's salvation and sanctification, we will be blind to both Truth and pleasure.


Do you agree my my analysis of Whitman's quote? If so, how should it affect how we evaluate our lives and beliefs? What kind of an impact should it have on our outlook on life?

But They Never Came to Rivendell

Life is not always a bed of roses. Sometimes its more of a road with rocks waiting to trip you up. That's where life has been for me recently. Rough, stressful, challenging. Full time work and full time school, an upcoming move from the community I've built up, plus a few other things are all stacking up. And I don't know about you, but I don't really like it here, in the rocky road. Pain is never really fun. One can only pretend that it's all good for so long on their own. In that context, I came across this quote in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings:

"...they missed a dark and dangerous journey. But they never came to Rivendell."

In the course of the book, this quote is actually talking about the Hobbits ponies that were scared off during the attack on the Inn at Bree. In this little aside, Tolkien relates to us how they missed the rest of the difficult journey which Frodo and Company took. However, this also meant that they never made it to Rivendell, the elven refuge for rest and encouragement. In the tales of Tolkien's world, it is also aptly referred to as The Last Homely House.

Why take time to look at this brief snapshot? Because we often are on the dark and dangerous journey, whether we like it or not, whether we chose it or not. This snapshot of the hobbit's ponies encouraged me to rise above myself and see the bigger picture. Sure, life is difficult now, but Rivendell is at the end of the difficulties. Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV)

If, like me, you are on one of life's rocky stretches, take heart. Rivendell is up ahead. Once we get there, we'll be able to see how the rough stretch was worth it.

There is certainly more that could be said about how to live life well in the middle of difficulty. In addition to looking forward to the benefits at the end, how else should we approach life's rough times? Do we take something away from the benefit of the pain if we focus solely on resolving and healing it?

Of Leading and Reading

Leaders are readers

This phrase has a a cliche feel. It's one of those phrases which contains a gold mine of truth and consequently is thrown around so much that it gets worn out. Today however, two sentences from a school book shed some light on why this phrase rings true:

"Whatever role others might play, it is Tutu who is the compass. He guides us in several ways, the most important of which is language."

These sentences from Country of My Skull highlight one of the most important tools leaders have at their disposal: words. You see, because Truth really is true, our words are either true or false. Either they accurately describe and depict reality, or they present a sham world.

If we are going to lead others effectively, we need to clearly, concisely, and correctly communicate about the world. There is no other option. You see, Evil has a way of painting up its own version of the world which looks deceptively accurate. It has had quite a bit of time to learn how to take what is false and make it look like reality. This means that if we are going to be effective in the Battle between Truth and Falsehood, we need to be skilled in the wielding of words. We need to be able to paint reality in such vivid and accurate colors that the sham world will be shown up for what it is.

One of the first steps in wielding words is to have the words to begin with. As a friend pointed out in a blog post on our company's website, the best way to gain these words is by reading. Interact with the thoughts left by others in their books leaves a fuller understanding on how the world really works. The more this understanding is developed, the better we will be able to verbally express our thoughts. 

Simply put, leaders read because it gives them the vocabulary with which to lead. It allows them to be able to clearly communicate how to go about living a good life.

In case you do not have a list of books you will be working on, here are a few which I have found to contain quite a bit of insight into the world: The Bible, The Lord of the Rings, and A Severe Mercy. They are all worth reading and rereading.

If you aren't in the middle of a book right now, please start one. According to Dr. Michael Bauman: "You either master language, or are mastered by those who do." Mastering or being mastered, the choice is up to you.

Above I listed several books which I have found to clearly communicate truth about the world. What books have you come across which did the same for you?