All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. — Arthur Schopenhauer
The last two years, I have done a lot of writing. The process of writing for me starts with a lot of thought and self-evaluation. Sometimes I write about things I am passionate about. Other times I write about improvements I need to make in myself. Sometimes I write about things I see in the world around me. What I hope to accomplish in all of this is to touch hearts. I hope to give the reader something to think about to improve her or his own life. Hopefully, I’m able to convey truth in what I write so that the reader will feel it burning in his or her heart.
No matter what subject I write about, the truth that I hope comes through is that God lives, and that He loves us. That’s why the quote above hit me hard. I have had my share of critics when it comes to my writing, but that’s okay. I know that there are far better writers than I, and I’m okay with that, as long as the truth of God’s love is evident.
Truth is ridiculed and opposed, but truth never changes, so it does become self-evident. We may not always understand Heavenly Father’s ways, but His ways are eternal truths. If we ridicule and oppose eternal truths, we are cutting off our noses to spite our faces.
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. — Winston Churchill
The danger for a writer is that while trying to convey truth, the reader forms opinions on the writer’s character—which can be right or wrong. Once in a while, it may be necessary for the writer to come clean. I would like to do that now.
I try to write about eternal truths, and teach the ideal. I want my readers to improve their lives, as I try to improve my own. Sometimes I write about things because I need to improve in a particular area.
Recently, I was thrown in with a group of very intelligent and educated women for a large scale project. From the very beginning, I did not understand why I was selected to join this particular group of women. I felt incapable of contributing anything worthwhile. These are women of the highest caliber—intelligent, educated, knowledgeable, and well-traveled. They have done things and had experiences that I have never even dreamed about. They are mothers of very large families, and they seemingly manage to leap tall buildings in a single bound without even batting an eye. They are righteous women who have strong testimonies of gospel principles and eternal truth. When I compared myself and my experiences to these stalwart women, I always felt like the token heathen.
Imagine my surprise when one of these women told me how she looks up to me! I was floored. It made me wonder if I had given the wrong impression of myself. A few weeks later, in a conversation with another one of these women, I was talking about a certain problem that I’m having. In the course of the conversation, she said that she never would have guessed that I had this particular flaw. Now I’m very concerned that my interaction with these women, as well as my writing, has given people the impression that I’m some sort of angel. In teaching the ideal, I hope my readers understand that I’m just as flawed as everyone else. That’s the truth. I struggle on a daily basis to keep my head above water when it comes to living the commandments.
So, dear readers, when you read things that I’ve written, please understand that there is an underlying theme which is, “Do as I say; not as I’m doing.” I don’t usually write about things that I have perfected in my own character; but rather, flaws that I’m struggling to overcome.
To read all of Tudie’s Daily Dose articles, click here.
Take the eternal truths that I write about and embrace them. Please don’t waste your time ridiculing or opposing them, because they are self-evident and incontrovertible. Attacking eternal truths will only be a waste of your time, because as Churchill said, “[I]n the end, there it is.” However, understand that I am only the messenger who delivers those eternal truths, as I struggle to live up to them myself.
Heavenly Father loves you. Jesus Christ loves you. The Holy Ghost loves you. They are all there for you, waiting for you to accept them into your life so they can help you in your journey home. That is self-evident, incontrovertible eternal truth. Knock on the door, and the door will be opened—but you must do the knocking. They are waiting on the other side of the door with open arms. Don’t delay. Be of good courage. Take the first step. Knock on the door.
Tudie Rose is a mother of four and grandmother of ten in Sacramento, California. You can find her on Twitter as @TudieRose. She blogs as Tudie Rose at http://potrackrose.wordpress.com. She has written articles for Familius. You will find a Tudie Rose essay in Lessons from My Parents, Michele Robbins, Familius 2013, at http://www.familius.com/lessons-from-my-parents.
Twitter •
