Best Paper
Serving Truth Right
Serving Truth Right
Would you like to live all your life without light, surrounded only by darkness and traps that you stubble into one by one, because you cannot see the right and safe path? This is what awaits anyone who lives his life without the truth, in captivity of lies. For others this fruitless life can be pushed upon them, when those surrounding them tell them the truth, but in a deleterious way- this will drive the listeners to insanity. So the following question arises: how should we share the truth with our loved ones, in order to help them live a life full of light and love? By looking at the symbols of the two different synagogues and their lighting, in chapters 7 and 18 of The Chosen, we can answer this question, and see that the way truth is taught and the environment in which the truth is taught, greatly affect an individual, as well as his life now and in the future; this is important because the knowledge of this issue is crucial, in order for us to live a thrilling life and see our loved ones blessed with joy.
The eagerness with which one strives to know the truth and his ability to accept it, greatly depends on the way the truth is served to the individual, whether one will enjoy it or hate it. A quote from chapter can serve as a great metaphor, “the naked light bulbs seemed ugly”(280). Once you think about it deeper you realize the depth of this statement. First you must imagine that you have been living with electricity your whole life, but if it goes out during the night you are pinned to one spot not daring to move. Once the light goes on you are filled with relief and a sense of peace. From this example we can conclude that light and any lamp that shades it, is a wonderful thing that brings comfort in darkness. So what does it take for a light bulb to start looking ugly? The fact that the light bulb is naked plays the main role. The presentation of truth as a light bulb is profound and substantial, because it clearly illustrates that if truth is exposed to someone nakedly, with no love, compassion or sympathy, it is agonizing for them, just like a light bulb with no lamp shade will burn the eyes of anyone who looks up at it. This proves that the way truth is unmasked before someone is what will either reconcile or destroy a person’s life, and maybe not the truth itself.
The environment in which we receive the truth can affect our welcome for it, much more than the truth we receive itself. In The Chosen two types of the synagogues are described. The first type is “…badly lighted, musty rooms, with benches or chairs crowded together and with windows that seemed always to be closed…”(112), and the second type, the one Reuven goes to, is described as follows: “… a large grocery store…, the sun shown in through the uncurtained portion of the glass, and I loved to sit there on a Shabbat morning, with the gold of the sun on the leaves of my prayer book, and pray”(112). Each of these two synagogues represents an environment in which truth can be taught to an individual. In the symbol of first synagogue and the light in it we can see that even though truth is taught, there isn’t enough light, which in this passage, is a symbol for love, present in order for the truth to have a positive effect in a person’s life. We can also see that the synagogue does not provide enough space, which can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual space, for an individual to assimilate truth and incorporate it into their lives. In comparison with the first synagogue, Reuven’s synagogue is a large, spacious room, which has plenty of light. Sitting and praying in this synagogue brings joy and satisfaction to Reuven. This is not only because of the physical characteristic described above, but because there is enough love demonstrated in the environment, as well as emotional and spiritual space to meet the needs of Reuven, to give him freedom to accept the tough and troublesome truth of the world that surrounds him. In all of this we can clearly see, that the setting in which the truth is presented to us, might have a greater impact than the truth in its essence.
The understanding of the concept that the way truth is laid out and the environment in which this is done, might have more lasting effects, for the person, than the truth, which is revealed. This concept is pivotal in how we share the truth with those around us, and will define whether or not we bring healing to those we love and care about. The concept is essential for us if we want to be witnesses of Christ’s love and compassion, not the society’s mockery and indifference. All of us have to make the decision to apply this to our lives and afterward live joyously, as well as bring joy and comfort to others. The sooner we make this decision, the brighter we can shine and more significantly impact those who desperately need our help. What is more important is that this concept, if we choose to live it out, will make us more like Christ. That is what our goal as Christians is, therefore, this concept, if acted upon, will help us succeed in the purpose God gave us.
Masha, I was able to think of my personal experience of when my house electricity goes off in just a snap second. I those times, I look for light, and usually that is my iPad. I think my iPad here symbolizes the truth I seek when I encounter hardships. Truth(iPad) has always been there in my life, but as my light goes off, I seek to find truth to find relief.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that environment impacts the truth’s existence. In JVJ’s life, he had a weak string of truth and light in his life which was connected to his moral conscience, but his environment did not impact him in a positive way. His circumstances only lead him to blind himself from truth that was knocking on his door continuously. As you commented on the symbolism of love, I think loving attitude JVJ had towards Cossette made him ignorant of the truth’s existence.
How has environment greatly impacted people’s lives in Les Miserables?
Do you think life has changed in the character in Things Fall Apart because of the environment they were in?
And BTW, my post is somewhere around the boundaries of shining light, so I think it will lead us into a good dialogue.
I am glad that we have common things to think about and the opportunity to contribute to one another's thoughts. I think that in both books the environment played one of the key words in the development of the main and secondary characters, but it also played a part in how they perceived truth and reality. Characters from both books, Thenardier and Okonkwo, were exposed to the most corrupt and toxic environments were not able, perhaps because they did not want to, to change. The presentation of truth to them was also, not presented in a loving way, but rather with contempt and disgust. On the other side of the spectrum we see Nwoye and Jean Valjean. Both of them have seen horrible and devastating things, went through many struggles, but eventually were exposed to a Christian environment where they had a freedom to choose. Truth was served to these two by great Christian men that not only loved God, but also their neighbors and therefore were able to show them friendship and affection, as they were ready to give people second chances.
DeleteI think that your personal experience with truth and the way it was presented is rather a positive and encouraged you to grow. As a result of this, I think you seek truth in hardships (IPad in darkness). Another thing that makes you want to seek truth in hardships is because you know THE Truth. You have been saved by THE Truth and even when THE Truth hurts you see it as pruning rather than the higher power trying to ruin your life. Not many have such a blessing in their life, so you should cherish it.
You also wrote about Jean Valjean’s experience and agreed that the way he was brought up and the fact that “he had a weak string of truth and light in his life”. I think this did not play the most important part in the process of his formation as an individual. What would have saved the situation was that if this “weak string of truth and light in his life” was presented in a loving way, topped with compassion and with a side dish of understanding and forgiveness, he would have had a much bigger and brighter shot at becoming a better man, which sees where and why he is going.
I'm so glad too that I was able to grow as i seeked truth in hardships.
ReplyDeleteThe environment that shaped my truth in its stability was Christian faith.
Do you think Christian faith is the one that shapes environment of truth better or do you think it's the worldly view? Because in a way, Christian faith seemingly seems to be "supernatural reality" to non believers, when in reality, Christianity is actually the REAL TRUTH.
What other factors do you think prepares Truth other than environment?
I really enjoyed this dialogue with HaEn and I hope to continue it after this assignment and outside of English class! I see it as a great blessing to me, because I actually went to depths I would have not otherwise, comparing characters in seemingly different books and applying themes from Les Mis to other books, like for example Things Fall Apart and to my own life. I thought I thing that went very well, was that her questions and incites made me ask myself questions and ignited my curiosity, made me want to learn more about things that might seem obvious at first and see whether ideas in Les Mis and in The Chosen are really universal in practice. Another thing that made me treasure this dialogue was the fact that we understood each other and communicated our thoughts in an interesting, but comprehendible way. I also enjoyed that, although we started discussing books that we were assigned to read, we were able to bring forth personal experiences and tie them in with the substantial themes that were valid in the 1860 and are still applicable today. I also loved that we got to talk not only on the topic of truth, but THE Truth too. I see this as a treasure, because in this school, English class, teacher and thanks to this assigned dialogue and the thought process that goes with it, I had a chance to realize how personal God is to me. How important my relationship with Christ in just everyday life, school, homework sports, and even when discussing literature and themes that certain books present.
ReplyDeleteI think something that might have gone better and made this dialogue even of more value was if I had went to analyze not only this year’s books, but maybe even last year’s. I also think that both of us could have contributed to this dialogue more and made it better if we had spent more time thinking over another person’s comment and trying not only to get our own thoughts out there, but thought more about what thoughts of ours could we get out there that would build up our partner in dialogue even more.
Thank you Mr. O for this assignment! I loved it!