Daniel Cerescu’s Post

3 Pieces of Wisdom 1. Stand by what you say, be willing to change when you are wrong. 2. Remember, the person who hurts you, offends you, outrages you, they are human, too. 3. Much of our lives come down to choosing which fiction we will believe. A Note at the End I wrote the phrase “love and faith are synonyms,” and I was not expecting that to be controversial in any way. And truthfully, I really only got two “negative” comments (not entirely negative, not all that inflammatory). It’s just that I never expected any push back on this idea at all. That happens. Sometimes we say something we know to be a truth, and it gets called a lie. We know we meant it to be loving and positive, and it gets used as proof of our flaws, our ignorance, our bigotry. Our first instinct, when this happens, is to step back, to apologize, to try to explain. That usually ends up being used as more fuel for the fire. Stand by what you say. That’s integrity. Be willing to change, when you learn you’re wrong. That’s wisdom. I write more at https://lnkd.in/gVCqeTew.

Fr. George: "If you are seeking the truth, it's important to challenge ideas & express honest doubts. Just as important is also to have a reasonable standard for reality, otherwise you will just keep dismissing contradictory evidence until you hear what you want. And just because someone contradicts what you say, and you believe what he says is evil, don't just tell him to "shut up." This is lazy & weakens you. Examine the evidence. Look for proof, rather than only the things you want to hear. Even God does not silence the devil. You need to hear both to choose." [End of quote.] Problem: we have a strong temptation we often give in to, so that we are not really seeking the truth if it appears it will make us uncomfortable or place demands upon us. We are generally looking only for things that re-inforce what we already want to believe, and dismiss out-of-hand everything else. Jesus Christ said, "I am . . . the Truth . . . ." (John 14:6.) If you wish to be saved, you must seek for, find, and embrace the truth, and the discomfort, suffering, and sacrifice that accompanies it.

Wisdom is found not in easy answers, but in the courage to face complexity. In a world that prizes conformity, embracing nuance is a radical act of wisdom. Proper understanding is rarely black-and-white. Those who resist nuance and demand simplicity over truth often have something to gain from an unchallenged narrative. Wisdom, however, thrives in complexity and refuses to be boxed into easy answers. When we accept only the simplest explanations, we turn away from the richness that real understanding brings. Wisdom asks us to look deeper, to question what we’re told, and to find a fuller picture—not because it’s easy, but because it’s the only path to real insight. So ask yourself (And yes, I mean you—not your neighbor, the person on the other side of the political aisle, or the person whose faith differs from yours.): Where might you be settling for easy answers? And what new questions could lead you to true wisdom?

"There are a lot of lies circulating around the world, and the worst thing is that half of them are true." - Winston Churcill 1️⃣ The Prevalence of Misinformation: The phrase acknowledges the widespread existence of lies or misinformation in today's world. This could be a comment on how easily false information can be spread, particularly through social media and the internet. 2️⃣ The Blurred Line Between Truth and Falsehood: By stating that "half of them are true," the message suggests that distinguishing between truth and lies is becoming increasingly difficult. It points to a situation where truth is not absolute and can be manipulated or presented in a way that makes lies seem credible. 3️⃣ The Irony of Truth within Lies: The paradox in the statement ("lies" being "true") highlights the irony that sometimes what we perceive as lies may contain elements of truth. It suggests that even false narratives can be built around kernels of truth, making them more believable and difficult to outright dismiss. 4️⃣ A Commentary on Public Discourse: This could be seen as a critique of the current state of public discourse, where sensationalism, biased narratives, and half-truths often overshadow objective facts and reasoned debate. 5️⃣ The Challenge in Seeking Truth: The message implies that in the quest for truth, one must navigate through a landscape riddled with both lies and truths intertwined. It speaks to the challenge of critical thinking and the necessity to scrutinize and verify information before accepting it as true. Overall, this message serves as a reflective and somewhat cautionary statement about the state of information and truth in our contemporary society, urging readers to be discerning and critical when confronted with the myriad of information that surrounds them. #BelieveYourShit #TrustYourSource #StopSharingRubbish

Truth can only be attacked by truth and it can only be defended by truth. When two opposing truths seek to occupy the same time and space, a paradox is formed. The paradox becomes the source of our suffering. When two truths collide, in order for balance to be achieved, one truth must overtake the other in order for a singularity to be reached. When we "agree to disagree", we are stuck in a state of disagreement and the unresolved paradox begins to fester into resentment and resentment to hatred. If my truth and your truth are at odds and we agree to disagree, we become eachothers constant trigger or we have to tiptoe around disagreements until eventually we fight and part ways. If we agree to discuss, then we agree to explore both truths and develop a deeper understanding of and appreciation for one another. But this requires the humility to say "I was wrong" and the humility to be right without gloating. Agreeing to disagree takes nothing. No effort. There is no investment, therefore no positive returns. Agreeing to discuss takes maturity and the desire to invest in the only thing that matters... truth. It's putting our own selfish egos to the side for a greater purpose. Agreeing to discuss is agreeing to dive deeper into ourselves and question our own truths. It's shadow work. Fighting our own demons while being vulnerable enough to reveal them to another human being. The truth is the light that reveals all shadows and destroys all illusions.

"Tell the truth or at least don't lie" (Dr. Jordan Peterson) The truth. What is it and does it even exist anymore? Sometimes I wonder. In my opinion, the truth is speaking in your own voice, uncompromised and uninhibited by those who you influence or those who exist in the fabricated higher-level perspective we call "success." Hidden, dismissed, compromised - the truth is often far removed from its potential benefits. But why? I think a lot of it has to do with the acceptance of responsibility and consequence once the truth is revealed. Some just don't, or won't ever go there! And then there's the potential risk.....what will happen if we tell the truth, if we are honest and say, and own, what we believe? Yes, it's much easier to play it safe, to manipulate an outcome or befriend deception, to hide behind a falsified representation, but understand this....consequence will manifest itself regardless of our choice. If we neglect the truth we are compromising the very essence of who we are while conveniently allowing others to formulate and control what we think, believe, and honor. If we own our truth, we may be hindered, dismissed, or vilified by others, but we'll live in a realm of self-respect and dignity. I'll choose the latter! What say you?

Are your conversations with some people more fact or fiction? Some people are chronic liars. It’s essential to live and let live while trusting them to be exactly as they are. And, if you’re a truth-teller, don’t expect others to be as you are. Don’t believe they are what they’re not. Pay close attention to what others say and do without imagining they and things are other than what you observe. When people bend the truth more than honor it, be wary. 👉 Learn more about this by reading our blog post called: The Truth Is. 💥 (It will take less than 6 minutes but is guaranteed to inspire you with actionable ideas for getting to the truth.) 💥 Read it now. @Mundancing

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." – C.S. Lewis Lately, I've been pondering the role stories play in shaping our deepest desires and selves. Something funny happened, I noticed a peculiar trend in my reading habits: for the past few years, my reading choices, centered around theology, philosophy, and business, were primarily fueled by a quest for self-improvement. My ultimate aspiration? Personal transformation—to become smarter, richer, better. While there's value in these books, they pale in comparison to the transformative power of stories. To truly encounter books that have left a lasting imprint on humanity, enduring the test of time, we must immerse ourselves in stories. Consider this compelling statistic: Among the roughly 100 books that have sold more than 20 million copies (excluding religious texts), 85% are narratives. So, I decided to reacquaint myself with the art of reading stories, starting with "The Lord of the Rings." If you haven't yet experienced them, I highly recommend you do. Takeaway: It's time to rediscover the magic of fairy tales.

We keep making the same mistakes. I’m reading Barbara Tuchman’s magisterial book The March of Folly. Fear, Greed, Pride, and what she charmingly called “Wooden-headedness” drive us on into the same tragic mistakes of bad governance and horrible policy. Lies as a useful tool? Launching a war as a good idea? There are always contrastive voices of wisdom available but they are too often ignored by the people at the top, wrongly put into power, who are acting on their baser emotions and grievances. Anyone who reads any history should recognize these patterns. They’re like birds flying over us in warning and we remain oblivious. Is it then folly to hope for a change, for an awakening, some sort of enlightenment on a broad scale? Or will history continue to repeat itself with lies aplenty, terrible wars, and bad leadership until it snuffs itself out on the back of an ineliminable power of folly? Tuchman traces four thousand years of emotion overcoming reason. But I hold out hope. And I hope you do too. In any case, nonetheless, have a good day.

There is an element of finality that emanates from the learned mind, because there is finality all around him. He can see that there is beauty all around him, and there is also ugliness. Among it all, he still is forced to realize that he has to use reason consistent with the primary objects of judgment. A decision will be made, and time will progress, and he will be deciding on other things, and being tempted to do so. Many great thinkers have discussed the implications of inaction, which include consent, but again it is interesting where these lines have been drawn. The truth is that things are to be judged contextually, AGAINST principles and standards mutually understood by the community they represent. In order to reach this mutual understanding, there must be precedents of the various aspects of self preservation and compassion. None is more extreme than the making of a decision, and thus also of the finality of it. What is most lasting about objects are its meanings, and the perpetuation of that meaning manifests differently for all of us, but definitely in the same ball park of understanding—if the interlocutor says anything clear when they are saying things. Sometimes objects stop on their own. Other objects need help to be stopped. But all living things die, and so this takes precedent through all decision making, although it need not be explicitly stated as the precedent of a conversation in the midst of a conversation.