One day, three blind men happened to meet each other and talked a long time about many things. Suddenly one of them recalled, "I’ve heard that an elephant is a strange animal. Too bad we're blind and can't see it."
"Ah, yes, truly too bad we don't have the good fortune to see the strange animal," another one sighed.
The third one, quite annoyed, joined in and said, "See? Forget it! Just to feel it would be great."
"Well, that's true. If only there were some way of touching the elephant, we'd be able to know," they all agreed.
It so happened that a merchant with a herd of elephants was passing, and overheard their conversation. "You fellows, do you really want to feel an elephant? Then follow me; I will show you," he said.
The three men were surprised and happy. Taking one another's hand, they quickly formed a line and followed while the merchant led the way. Each one began to contemplate how he would feel the animal, and tried to figure how he would form an image.
After reaching their destination, the merchant asked them to sit on the ground to wait. In a few minutes he led the first blind man to feel the elephant. With outstretched hand, he touched first the left foreleg and then the right. After that he felt the two legs from the top to the bottom, and with a beaming face, turned to say, "So, the strange animal is just like that." Then he slowly returned to the group.
Thereupon the second blind man was led to the rear of the elephant. He touched the tail which wagged a few times, and he exclaimed with satisfaction, "Ha! Truly a strange animal! Truly odd! I know now. I know." He hurriedly stepped aside.
The third blind man's turn came, and he touched the elephant's trunk which moved back and forth turning and twisting and he thought, "That's it! I've learned the truth of this strange animal."
The three blind men thanked the merchant and went on their way. Each one was secretly excited over the experience and had a lot to say, yet all walked rapidly without saying a word.
"Let's sit down and have a discussion about this strange animal we’ve all touched," the second blind man said, breaking the silence.
"A very good idea. Very good indeed." the other two agreed for they also were eager to share their findings.
Without waiting for anyone to be properly seated, the second man blurted out, "This strange animal is like our straw fans swinging back and forth to give us a breeze. However, it's not so big or well made. The main portion is rather wispy and somewhat frail."
"No, no!" the first blind man shouted in strong disagreement. "This animal resembles two giant trees without any branches."
"You're both wrong." the third man replied. "This odd animal is similar to a snake; it's long and round, and very strong."
How they argued! Each one insisted that he alone was correct.
Of course, there was no conclusion, no agreement among these three blind men, for not one had thoroughly examined the whole elephant.
Being physically blind is an impediment to understanding the nature of anything, let alone something as large and confusing as an elephant would be to a blind person. However, being willfully blind... choosing not to see and accept reality is choosing a path of ignorance. How can anyone describe the whole of anything until he has learned the total of all the parts?
In our quest for Truth, one cannot hope to understand its magnitude without knowing and understanding the nature and character of God, the source of all Truth. Truth is not the sum total of all human experiences... which in fact would diminish truth to being subjective. Real Truth cannot be modified, marginalized, parsed or ignored to make it suit human needs and wants.
Subjective truth has spawned a morass of cultural and moral relativism today... views that ethical standards, morality, and positions of right and wrong are culturally based and therefore subject to a person's individual perspective. We can all decide what is right for ourselves. You decide what's right for you, and I'll decide what's right for me. Moral relativism says, It's true for me, if I believe it to be true.
Truth is not a partial or incomplete perspective determined by the vision of one or two or many, without first carefully examining the whole, the source, the origin. Real Truth does not originate with man, even though man likes to think it does. All things created are subject to a set of laws, whether natural or divine.
Truth is absolute, and cannot be compromised, modified or negotiated. All truth emanates from the Creator... Almighty God. He is the source and origin of all things... therefore all of life and purpose are born from the absolutes of God. Real truth, God’s Truth, His Word the Bible, cannot be neutralized simply because you decide it doesn’t fit with your worldview.
God’s Church is an absolute Truth revealed in Jesus Christ, defined by the Cross and freely given to humanity in His absolute plan for Redemption, Reconciliation and Salvation. His Truth... His Church... absolutely His way.
