Truth

Truth is a funny thing.  It gets twisted.  It is clear.  It is factual.  It is make-believe.  It saves people.   It hurts people.

Why do we run away from it?  From fear of telling people things that they don't want to hear...or that will hurt.  I've learned in my 'old age' to try to reserve telling the truth in what I think for the times that it can only help matters.  For example...

There is a young unmarried couple that moved in a house down the street.  I think this is their first house by a few things.  The first 10 leaves that fell this autumn, the guy was out raking...the rest of us were waiting for a bit longer when the 1M leaves on our block would soon be on the ground.  What I noticed last month was that they had all their old wooden storm windows at the curb with the garbage.

I thought: Why are they throwing those things out?...it's almost winter.  Maybe they don't realize what they are doing, or maybe they are getting new windows, those lucky dogs!

A day later a window sales guy showed up at our door with the pitch: We are here doing new windows in your neighborhood & wanted to see if you wanted a quote.  My thought: Yes, those new neighbors down the street are getting new windows.

Weeks went by.  No new windows.

Now I think they just didn't realize that in this 50 year old house, with the single paned windows, in the winter you hang those heavy storm windows.  Yes, it prevents you from opening the windows until the spring...but it also prevents freezing cold air from coming in & frost on the inside of your house (yes, on the inside of the window).

I was walking down the street & she started a conversation with me.  Wonderful husband asked if I mentioned the storm windows.  I said no.  They were long gone in the garbage, what good would it be to point out to her the truth in her error?  None, I decided.  So every time I drive by, I look at those single paned windows with the screens on them & think....man, they are going to be freezing cold.

Now...should I have walked down the street & checked while they were throwing out the storms?  Should I also open my mouth about other things I believe as the truth?  Maybe.  But maybe not.  Perhaps it's the truth to me, but not to someone else.