Truth

There are universal truths, and there are subjective truths. That is the conundrum we here in Sacramento are faced with daily. In this age of post-truth sensationalism, how can we trust our senses? How can we trust our eyes to show us the truth? How can we trust our ears to hear the truth? How can we trust our hands to feel the truth? How can we trust our noses to smell the truth?

I'll tell you. All that's left is what we've always yearned for. We have all felt the need, the desire to have just a nibble; just a speck, a small portion; we desire, simply, to taste the truth. And for a taste, as we all know, we must use our tongues. Indeed, to taste the truth we must run our tongues across it.

Let us do it. Let us run our tongues across this truth. May the peace, love, and joy of the truth be with us all.

Tonight I want you to simply find your tongue, and run it over the truth before you. Then, and only then, will you know the truth for yourself, and have it in your heart. It's a taste of truth, you see. And I know you will enjoy it.

And then, lord willing, tomorrow we will eat well. We will eat of the bread of life, and drink the cup of the truth, and we will be filled with your good spirit, and we will be given that true taste of truth, and your good gift of truth, and it will make us strong, and give us joy.

The true object with which we can taste the truth can be found in a small box in Eastern Europe, very near the Jewish ghetto of Kiev. It is called the taras batyr, and if you want it you must pay an exorbitant price for it. That is all right. Your money will be well spent. But, listen to this:

The truth is given only to the pure in heart. This is true. You cannot beg for the truth. You cannot steal the truth. You cannot hide the truth in your pockets. Only the truth can be bought, and bought only by the pure in heart.

Once you have your hands on the truth, do not try to feel the truth. Do not try to see the truth, or smell the truth, or hear the truth. You may only taste the truth, but do not touch it. Do not let it touch your body. And do not run your tongue over it. That is all I can tell you, dear friends. You cannot kiss the truth. You cannot cuddle the truth, or hug the truth, or pat the truth, or love the truth, or embrace the truth.

There is one other thing I can tell you. You cannot store the truth. You cannot put it in your pocket. You cannot carry it about with you. You cannot cradle the truth in your arms. You cannot hold it close to you. That is all right. You may only use the truth when you are near, when you are very near, as one living in close proximity to the truth.

That is all I can tell you. The truth is wonderful. It is better than fine wine. It is better than delicious food. It is better than the choicest wine, the most delicate food, the most delectable morsel of food. It is better than all the delicious delights of this world. It is better than all the finer jewels, the most precious gems, the most magnificent jewels. It is better than fine clothes, good shoes, fine dishes, fine books, fine pictures, fine statues.

The truth is far, far better than all these. The truth is wonderful. It is far better than anything you can conceive of. It is far better than all your fancy dreams of hope and happiness. The truth is far, far better than all your dreams of pleasure and happiness. The truth is far, far better than all the things you enjoy. It is better than all the pleasures you enjoy. It is far, far better than the fun you enjoy.

The truth is far, far better than all the happiness you enjoy. It is better than the peace you enjoy. It is better than the love you enjoy. It is far better than the joy you enjoy. The truth is far, far better than the glory you enjoy. It is better than the fame you enjoy. It is better than the honor you enjoy.

The truth is far, far better than all the prosperity you enjoy. It is better than all the fortune you enjoy. It is better than all the pleasure you enjoy. It is better than the glories you enjoy. The truth is far, far better than all the accomplishments you enjoy. It is better than the honors you enjoy. It is better than all the honors you enjoy.

The truth is far, far better than all the awards you enjoy. It is better than all the decorations you enjoy. It is better than the fine clothes you enjoy. It is better than all the fine clothes you enjoy. It is better than all the fine food you enjoy.

This is the truth.

That is all I can tell you.