THE BLIND TRUTH

 

“Truth will always be truth regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief or ignorance.” 

W. Clement Stone

Another series of events have brought an additional twist in my life road map. A short trip and drive through Europe become a time for reflection and an extended stay due to unforeseen circumstances. An only too frequent occurrence in life at the moment. Some things are apparently so obvious, like the pain of another, but how many times have we shut down and conveniently crossed the road to avoid looking at the ‘inconvenient’ things that would require some discomfort and soul searching? What will it take for us to live our best lives without pretence or excuses, without shielding ourselves from the tough truths and be determined to acknowledge the realities of those around us, freeing us all to be our authentic selves?

A while back a person confided in me about a period of time when they would pass the brightly illuminated shop windows on the way back from work and were often hungry when they passed the food places. They didn’t have the necessities and had to pass by these windows day after day watching people going about their everyday lives buying all sorts of delicious things. They described how emotionally tough it was and how helpless they felt. The worst part of this situation was the ‘me’ culture surrounding them and the complete lack of awareness, whether intentional or not, on the part of those who were in close contact with them. My question is: how could this situation have gone differently if the real truth had been considered and a reactive response formulated? Ignorance can be bliss for some, but what if this were us or those we really care about?

Poverty, injustice and abuse are difficult to confront, but should we just switch over as they come onto our radar because they are tough for us to register? Watching the film ‘La Ciociara’ (Two Women), directed by Vittorio De Sica based during the Second World War and the horrific rape of a woman and her daughter, then turning over the channel and seeing babies suffering from malnutrition and earlier in the day seeing a group of people outside in the rain sleeping rough under a porch in sleeping bags, what is the response to this? So often the reaction can be “but what can I do?” The act of acknowledgement is a powerful step. Unfortunately, we can believe that because someone experiences something first hand, they would then automatically understand the suffering of another in a similar situation or understand what they went through. I can honestly say that this isn’t guaranteed. If the person is in a ‘me’ culture environment they can become even more self-consumed and worried with self than before, judging ferociously everything and everyone that surrounds them. I would challenge you in this current atmosphere of hatred and aggression throughout the world to understand which side of this you stand on.

Listening to the incredibly soul touching performance by Krystian Zimerman of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1, I am reminded of how even the best of us can be undervalued and made to feel pretty insignificant. Even in Chopin’s day, his character was often misunderstood, he was not always recognised for who he really was and was forced to live a life in exile, pained by the separation from his homeland and at times, challenged by the very channelled perspective that limited how others saw him. I know that the comparison is by no means the same to what I have previously mentioned, but there are such subtle signs in abuse, injustice and poverty that may seem something else and not be recognised for what they actually are. People then begin to get comfortable with the individual or individuals concerned being treated in this way and the blinkers go on and so does the abuse or painful situation. I would call on everyone reading this to open your eyes. It may be going on in your own family, to your children, to friends and people you care about, you may be doing it to someone, it may be happening to you. 

If we communicate with one another and refuse to allow injustice and suffering go unnoticed, we will have taken a powerful step to calling out this treatment and can start to bring these things out of the unacceptable shadows. No one should have to suffer in silence, no one should have to go hungry, no one should have to be taken down a peg because they are different, talented or whatever ‘justifies’ this treatment. Stop jealousy or hatred in its tracks, if you witness such treatment do not accept it and encourage others to do the same. If we allow fear to beat us, it could go on happening to other people who may not be so fortunate. Blind truths cost, are you really willing to pay the price and for those you love? Empty words and promises are better left at the door, it’s time to take a stand and get uncomfortable enough to start fighting. Each person, each step, each acknowledgment, each act of love against injustice is another part of the patchwork of a life that counts, has value and has every right to shine.