Western Gathering:
FGConnections Fall 2006
Your Truth or Mine?
By Rick Juliusson
 Rick Juliusson and Sons |
“Do not call me a liar,” I menace. “I’m telling you the truth.”
“No, I know the truth,” he counters. “I saw the truth.”
My 4-year old and I are arguing in the middle of the cafeteria at Pacific Lutheran University about a matter of grave importance: his juice. At his request (and while his mother wasn’t looking) I mixed all four juices together to make a cacophony of flavours in a cloudy, swirling froth. Galen’s sure I only put in two.
I’ve tried reassuring and gently explaining, tried brushing it aside and telling him to let go, but by now I have somehow identified this crowded, noisy cafeteria as the golden opportunity to teach him a lesson about trust and accusations.
“Do not accuse me of lying,” I hear my dad’s stern voice come out of me. “The truth is I put in all four juices.”
“I saw you put in two. That’s the truth,” he maintains.
We sally back and forth a few times, frustration and anger and defensiveness escalating, when suddenly a memory from Austin, Texas three years ago comes to mind. It was a threshing session about the pros and cons of a potential property for a new meeting house that I knew was perfect. After suffering through some older Friends doubts and fears, I passionately and convincingly explained the eighteen or so reasons why this was the right choice. I sat down, relieved and exhilarated by the strong expression that would surely make it all clear. Then out of the silence and elder gently said, “Thank you, Friend, for your portion of the truth.”
Suddenly I realize that I’m calling Galen a liar just as much as he’s calling me one. I finally listen to his words – “I saw you only pour two” – and realize that it’s entirely true to him. The golden teaching moment, it turns out, is all for me, and I share it with him.
“Galen, I’m sorry. I see that you are telling the truth. You only saw me pour in two juices, right? Well, what happened is that you somehow didn’t see me pour in the other two, but I did. So we’re both telling the truth.”
And just like that, the argument is over. I’ve respected his truth and he instinctively reciprocates by trusting mine. The cup isn’t half full (or half-empty) with one of our versions, but is now overflowing with our mutual understanding and respect. And with a disgusting mixture of cranberry-orange-apple-grape swamp water that Galen thinks delicious. I’ll let that remain as his truth.
When not playing or learning with his two boys and wife Sarah, Rick Juliusson (Vancouver BC Monthly Meeting) can be found singing, cycling, or playing beginners ice hockey (Canadian, eh?). Rick is director of “ACCES”, a non-profit organization serving over 1,500 students in Kenya, and has recently hung his shingle as a Storyteller as well as Writer.
Western Gathering
- Expanding Circles by Aimee Bucholz
- Listen and Obey the Spirit by Rubye Howard Braye
- Touching others … others touching us by John Helding
- Water Has Memory by Raelyn Joyce
- Living Water Cards
- Sailing to Gathering by Linda Hill and John Scull
- More Reflections from the Western Gathering
