True or False by Jim Stovall

Recently, I heard an individual who could be called a 21st century thought leader say, “Success is a matter of finding the truth and following it.” While I agree with those words and the ideals they are based upon, the truth is elusive and difficult to capture. Winston Churchill said, “Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it, ignorance may deride it, malice may distort it, but there it is.”

I have been writing these columns for well over 20 years, and there is probably no one I’ve quoted more than Winston Churchill. I grew up here in America, where Winston Churchill will always be remembered for his pivotal role in the allies’ victory in World War II. I can truly say we live in a free world because of Winston Churchill’s leadership, as countless individuals fighting for freedom made great sacrifices.

However, there are other truths that are just as real and just as valid. These columns are read in newspapers, magazines, and online publications in India and South Africa. Over the years, a number of my readers have contacted me and explained that Winston Churchill is thought of quite differently in their culture. A bit of research on my part revealed the truth from their perspective, and I understand why Churchill may not be held in as high esteem by other people. This does not take anything from Churchill’s contribution to the world during World War II, nor does it take anything away from the power of his words that remain with us today.

I have several friends who are detectives, and they help me with some of my mystery books. In the process of learning more about what goes on during an investigation, I have discovered that the least reliable evidence, in any case, is an eyewitness. Several people may observe a traffic accident, and just a few moments after the collision, they will have widely differing accounts of what happened. Each of them may be telling the truth as they saw it or understand it, but it doesn’t mean that they are all accurate. As a blind person myself, I’m always intrigued by the fact that sighted people can be misled, through an optical illusion, into believing something that is simply not true.

When we testify in a courtroom, we swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The truth is merely our testimony of what we understand or how we perceived a situation. The “whole truth” means we are not leaving any parts out that could result in misleading testimony because we can be totally honest and leave out a detail that makes our statement false. When we promise to tell nothing but the truth, this includes inserting facts or details that may mislead or distract from the reality. We live in a world where we are all experiencing information overload, but it is more challenging than ever to find the truth.

As you go through your day today, get beyond the noise and clutter and seek the truth.

Today’s the day!

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082; by email at Jim@JimStovall.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/stovallauthor; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimstovallauthor.