Two Truths

"He lead a double life. Did that make him a liar? He did not feel like a liar. He was a man of two truths."

-- Iris Murdoch

I love beer, and I love God. I love baseball, football and tennis, and I love meditation, prayer, and contemplation. Am I bipolar? Do I suffer from multiple personality disorder? No, I'm just a normal human being full of polarities, disparities and contradictions.

Consistency has never been my strong suit. Wasn't it Emerson who said, "Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...?" From my perspective most people spend way too much time trying to be consistent with some crazy image they have of themselves. They attempt to force all their delightful quirks and colorful idiosyncrasies into a way-too-small, bland, vanilla container.

When I was in graduate school I facilitated a meditation group for a local ecumenical ministry. One week, as the participants assembled, a young woman said to me, "I was at the football game on Saturday, and I saw a guy who looked just like you, but he was the exact opposite of you. He was screaming and yelling and cheering and acting like a wild man." I calmly said, "Oh yea, that was me. Great game, huh?" The look on her face can only be described by that overused word that has been blatantly commandeered by Master Card, "priceless."

You may have two truths; you may have more. All of them can be lived, just not simultaneously. If all your many facets are confusing to the peanut gallery, so be it. Better to be confusing to others than untrue to yourself.

So, your task for today is a rather enjoyable one -- let a hidden side of yourself come out and play. Let your subtle humor shine. Let your sarcasm blossom. Let your smoldering sexuality run rampant. Whatever side of yourself you've been squirreling away, let it be front and center today. Live your truths, however many there may be!