The journey of life is much more difficult than we give it credit. We often charm ourselves into thinking “Its wonderful to be alive.” At times it is… But do we acknowledge the rigour and strain and pain life delivers?

The letting go, the holding on, the fear, the pain, the unknown — the not knowing — and being okay… We want to know, we act like everything is fine, like we expected the worst. When we are afraid, vulnerable and seeking answers, sometimes anything, to hold, to believe.

Do you have the courage to not believe…? No ideologies, no stories about endings and beginnings. The end of dogma, creeds, policies, principles, the end of knowing. The end of opinions and talking heads spouting propaganda and one-sided narratives.

Standing alone with no answers with no Messiah or misguided populist leader. Willing to not know, to be alone — no allies or political parties waving flags jubilantly. No landslide victories talked about in Sunday School or chatted over firing shots at the rifle range.

Picking a side, a team, a favourite, an ally in the fray, a brother in arms. You walk or take up your bed and move to nothingness; a barren land where finding friend or foe can be equally challenging. To hold, to wait, to exercise patience in being open.

Again: to not know; to not have the answers. And to be comfortable not having the answers. This might be the hardest thing to do as a Homo Sapien. Do you have the courage to not know? Do you have the courage to accept we do not have the answers.

We (our species) have solved monumental problems but we have more to solve. Truth is a tricky word… our species have subjugated and tortured every side and square inch of the word. We alter its meaning and prostitute its clarity for our ambitions.

Truth is most often used to be in accord with fact or reality. Not mine or yours but reality which can be measured and weighed. Truth can be ubiquitous and self-serving as individuals experience and perceive differently. Truth can be a story and truth can be just a reflection, a point of reference or point of view.

A truth or (The truth) can be dangerous; all encompassing. It’s often suffocating and authoritarian . It can bully and be tyrannical without genuine compassion. Destroying the big picture with tunnel vision — disinterested in facts and data rather rhetorical and eloquent.

Following or conforming to societal cultures and traditions while adhering to beliefs help establish authoritarian regimes. Investigation and fervent study using critical thinking brings down the draconian — the process sounds simple: but is not!

Many humans have staked out positions that require mental gymnastics when confronted with contrasting facts. A defensive posture is automatic if faith or belief pays the bills. Tribal conformity relies heavily on confirmation bias only seeing and hearing what confirms their beliefs.

It takes tremendous courage to walk through life without belief, without religion, without a thesis. To stand alone with an open mind and an open heart. Unprejudiced, dispassionate, detached from a position, objectively courageous…

Contrary to what we have been taught: believing in what we cannot see or hear in the face of contradicting evidence. This is empirically dangerous and historically left a bloody wake. Education and critical inquiry reduce violence and support peace, not the 10 commandments…

To those who stand tributary in the ongoing journey that never reaches conclusions and fixed opinions but facilitates a discussion in solving our problems while acknowledging our triumphant progress.

Thank you…