The truth

by William (Bill) Campbell, Conner

Some words are troublesome for us. Yes, No, Maybe. Ok, and so on. They evoke a certain response within us all.

The one that can be as cold as steel or a warm fuzzy is: The Truth. The effect has the potential to be like a cold shower. That simply because The Truth is a test. No matter the circumstance, location or result, it is a test.

Individuals face, and greet, the test many times on a daily basis as we interact socially with those around us. Those relationships often require that elasticity of The Truth is stretched to its fullest for any number of reasons. Large or small, there is always a meaningful result or there would not have been a test. Often the elements of the test are such that the potential response has great latitude and can still be identified as The Truth by all involved.

To identify The Truth when it is present is the moment when the basis for The Truth is revealed. That basis certainly, is Integrity. It is the degree of impact that determines the extent of Integrity present in the moment of The Truth. It’s not unlike a track star jumping hurdles. Sometimes the margin is narrow, sometimes great and sometimes nonexistent and the hurdle is knocked over.

The Truth is like that. The structure of the hurdle is what determines its ability to survive the impact. The elements of the question requiring The Truth can present a degree of uncertainty so great that someone involved will sacrifice their Integrity and not tell The Truth.  The result may be deemed as good or bad, but it is based on a lie and the process will reveal itself.

It’s commonly referred to as the Moment of Truth.

Government deals with the Moment of Truth by delegation and functions with varying degrees of success as a result.

The Forest Service has been delegated the agency to make the judgement on the Sheep Creek Proposition.

The fate of the Bitterroot Valley hangs in the balance.

The United States Forest Service is about to experience their “Moment of Truth”.