The One Thing I've Figured Out and Know I'm Right About

There is one thing that I am absolutely, unequivocally sure that I right about.  I have spent some time thinking on this fact and I have found it to be true repeatedly in my life.  It is one thing I no longer waste any time thinking on, it is a proven fact.  I am wrong, a fallible human being.  On a daily basis, there are any number of minor things I may be wrong on.  It is often how long it will take me to do any given task, I never seem to plan enough time.  Alison will attest to that.  It may be what time I ran at a recent race or the lyrics to a song.  Just any minor thing I may be wrong about.  Then one day I had what I'll call an epiphany moment while thinking on how often I can be wrong on all these minor things.  If I can't be reliably right on something minor, how could I ever be reliably right on anything major.  (This started as a blog about the basis of my faith, but thought I needed to precede it with this point first.)  Realizing the fact, and depth, of my wrongness was a true epiphany moment in my life.  It changed how I looked at the world and the people I encounter.  Whatever I may think, I could be wrong about it.  Whether that thought is about God, the universe's origin, or another human's motivations, I could be wrong in what I think.  In fact, by recognizing my wrongness I don't actually need to have the answers, because I might be wrong anyway.

Interestingly, most people seem to like my personal truth.  I think many believe that they can teach me the right path in life.  I know some girls that I have dated seemed to think this.  They knew what was right and right for me.  I remember one in particular really seemed to think this way.  I don't think she understood why I would confess my wrongness and not readily follow all her guidance.  She also didn't seem to get the fact that words are rather important to me.  I mean exactly what I say, most of the time.  And what I don't say is just as important as what I do say.  She just filled in the gaps of what I didn't say with what she wanted to hear.  So human interaction has led me to a second truth, though it took me a while to get to, mainly because I did not want to put labels on other people.  But I believe this fact is almost as important as my wrongness.  Other people are wrong too.  In fact, I give very little credibility to a person who believes they are right on most anything.  I'll listen to anyone and learn from anyone.  But too often you can find something inaccurate in what a person may say or believe, but they will stubbornly believe they are right.  They are right!  Period.  It is nearly impossible to prove to some people that they are wrong.  And when you do, they have a hard time accepting it.  For myself, to follow a person who is "right" feels dangerous.  They will lead you wrong with no apprehension.  Actually, a pet peave of mine is people who say they are sure they're right on something and then be wrong.  I know people who will do this repeatedly.  All a person has to do is say that they believe or think something correct.  Just don't say you are sure.  If I tell you I'm sure about something or I know something, I am sure.  But I will only use that language on some minor fact.  Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl in 2009 or at least they had more points at the end of the game.  My height is... are you asking without shoes or with shoes, and which shoes are you asking my height in?   Another descriptor for me, everything is complicated with me.  I think that is true about me, but I could be wrong.  I digress.

Some may say that I do not believe in absolute truths.  That all I see is grey, no black and white truths.  I do believe in absolute truths, I just don't know what those truths are.  I believe there either is a superior being(s), God, or there is not.  Evolution and the big bang theory is correct or incorrect.  I'm faster than a screech owl or I'm not.  There is right and wrong, black and white.  But I don't have the answer, maybe a few ideas, but no definitive conclusions.  You could say that I live in a world of grey or I would like to think a kaleidoscope of color.  And I hope that I appreciate all the color, the beautiful and the downright ugly.  I believe in seeing it all, then choosing a path with no regrets.  I make the best choice that I can and move on.  If or when I find that I am wrong, I make ammends if need be and set a different course.  So a coming blog is about the basis of my faith in God, which is based on hickory nuts, a couple of canoe trips, and my running.  And Cory, whether you read this or not, we need to get together for another run soon.  Since I'm putting this in a blog, you can talk more on our next run.  Maybe.