What Is Truth? A Reflection for our Time – by The Rev. Carol McDonald

We are a fearful and anxious people –

at times even stiff-necked …

as Martyr Stephen reminds us.

We crave certainty

and yearn for clarity …

and dwell in ambiguity.

Gripped by insecurity

Daily … we ask,

“What IS Truth?”

I confess –

Truth, to me,

is elusive.

It is intangible

and indescribable.

Perhaps, ultimately,

Truth is but a Mystery …

The mystery of God’s love

A love that never gives up

Or turns away …

A love that opens truth

in the midst of

the swirl of alternative facts …

A love that sends truth

and light

into a fragile reality

punctured regularly by fake news …

A love that fills our hearts

with Truth’s wisdom

when we doubt ourselves

and distrust those we love …

A love that speaks truth

and declares what is right

even as false prophets

preach …

and pronounce …

and pontificate.

A love made human

in the One who is

‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

A love that encourages

and empowers

and energizes us

to witness

to the Mystery that is Love …

to the Mystery that is Truth …

In our witness,

may the world know

The Truth

which is indestructible

And may we all be free.

 

 

Carol McDonald, an Honorably Retired member of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, retired in 2014 after serving the Synod of Lincoln Trails of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 25 years as Associate Executive, Co-Executive, and Executive.  She served two congregations in northern Indiana as Assistant Pastor and served another congregation for several seasons as it awaited installed pastoral leadership.  She currently serves as a Parish Associate for Northminster Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN.

Carol has served the church at all levels.  She served twice as Moderator of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, served on both the Educator Certification Council and the Interim Ministry Certification Board of the PC (U.S.A.), chaired the Committee to Review Biennial General Assemblies, and most recently chaired the committee which nominated the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC (U.S.A.)  She continues to serve on the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, is a member of the Advisory Team for NEXTChurch, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. She was the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators ‘Educator of the Year’ in 1999 and  named by her colleagues in 2003 as the “Judicatory Practitioner of the Year” in Transitional Ministry.  She has taught since 2010 in the Certificate in Executive Leadership program of McCormick Theological Seminary.

She studied at Bethany College, W.Va. and Yale University Divinity School.  She lives in Indianapolis, IN.