Passionate searchers of truth

The Letters section, where writers present various points of view, often passionately, is usually the first page I turn to. I enjoy the letters. I find them interesting, sometimes moving, even inspiring. In fact, I have written my share of letters and will, no doubt, write more. Yet, I share a sentiment similar to that expressed by J. Gordon Neal in his Letter About Letters (February). I find it difficult reconciling the passionate expression of single points of view to the concept of an all-encompassing love and understanding.
To my mind, everything — every question, every answer, every issue, every person, everything — has multiple sides, multiple points of view. There are sides I can, at any given time, see. There are sides I've seen, but have forgotten. There are sides I have yet to see. And I suspect there are always going to be sides that I will never see. And truth has always seemed so very elusive, moving fluidly from viewpoint to viewpoint, disassembling itself, so that part is here and part is there, depending on where I stand, or how I squint my eyes. I have never felt qualified to say, “This is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me, God.”
So, I see nothing wrong with writing letters to passionately express one view or another, as long as, while we're passionately expressing ourselves, we don't forget to also remain passionate searchers of truth, and passionate, too, about our efforts to be understanding.

About Michael Lehto
Thunder Bay, Ont.