Living Your Truth

As a teacher, I try to live my truth and practice what I preach. I try not to ask my friends, family, customers or students to do something I would not be willing to do myself. If I haven’t experienced something personally, I won’t recommend it to others. This philosophy spills into all areas of my life. I wouldn’t say something about another person when they are not around if I was not willing to say it to his or her face. I’m extremely honest so I expect honesty in return (even if it is not what I want to hear). If I preach to other’s that they should be compassionate at times, then I should also have that quality. I think you get the picture…

On Monday March 13, 2000 I was returning home from doing some errands when I saw a man and a woman knocking on a neighbour’s door. I figured they were of the Jehovah Witness faith because they were carrying the little briefcase with all their information and they “felt” like they were. I don't have a problem with their religious practices as long as they are living their truth. Nobody was answering my neighbour’s door so they headed over my way. I had not yet made it into the house when they began speaking to me. Although I was carrying a heavy load, I had already decided I was in the mood for a bit of a chat.

The representative's names were Deanne and Dave and they seemed very nice. Dave was the main speaker and was preaching the word of the Bible like a professional. When he said something with which I did not agree, I voiced it. In fact, at times I was preaching right back at them.

Dave began his speech by telling me about under-developed countries that have slave labour, child labour and child prostitution. He talked extensively about Satan and God and how man had a choice about being led astray. He preached passages from the Bible whenever he could fit them into the conversation and quite often had to fumble around for words because his “normal speech” wasn’t quite working with me.

He showed great perseverance in trying to get his points across. Deanne didn’t say very much and to be quite honest, he didn’t give her much opportunity. She did manage to say that as she was listening to what I was saying and that she got the feeling I didn’t adhere to one particular religion, but rather to a belief system that took bits and pieces from different faiths. She was correct and I told her so.

During this conversation, which probably lasted over 20 minutes, Deanne interrupted Dave about three times saying that my load was heavy and they should let me go. Dave ignored her. As I was listening to him preach about loving others and having compassion for others, I started thinking to myself,

“I’m standing here with my arms full. I have a bag filled with about 10 Workbook orders, which I am holding in both arms because the bag is ripped. I have over a pound of oatmeal from the bulk store hanging from one finger on my left hand and I have a large Tim Horton’s coffee in it as well. It’s very uncomfortable and my muscles are beginning to hurt. Yet, here is Dave still preaching, completely ignoring my circumstance and I am stupidly listening.”

Well, I had reached my limit so I interrupted Dave and said to him, “Let me see if I have your belief system right. You believe that we should all show love to one another.”

He replied, “Oh, yes”.

I said, “And you believe that we should all show compassion to others, putting their needs before our own and thinking of their welfare.”

Again he replied, “Oh, yes”.

Then I said, “So how come you’ve allowed me to stand here for 20 minutes holding this heavy load and have not suggested I take a moment to put it down, especially since Deanne has suggested about three times that the load is heavy?”

Dave looked a bit taken back. At that moment, he realized that he was so busy preaching that he wasn’t even practicing what he was trying to get me to believe. He wasn't living his truth. He said sheepishly,

“I am human and do make mistakes.”

Of course, he’s human and we all make mistakes and perhaps I could accept this as an excuse had Deanne not told him three times that he should be aware of my situation. Perhaps Dave would say, “Satan was influencing him.” I tend to believe it was Dave’s ego and his need to hear his own voice.

I guess there was a lesson in this experience. Perhaps it was so that I could see that he wasn't living his truth. Perhaps it was a lesson for me in reinforcing my belief in practicing what I preach. Whatever the reason, I suggested that the next time he was speaking to someone that he should be more aware of his or her situation if he was going to try and get him or her to accept his belief system. At that point, I said that I really did have to go. We all laughed and told each other to have a good day.

By the way, they never did offer me any of their pamphlets.