Many years ago, when I was still in college, my mother sent me a newspaper article in which a woman described a nun who had influenced her during her years growing up in a Catholic school.
She described her relationship with this wonderful lady who was also the school's librarian.
Both being avid readers, they had found each other and connected through their mutual love of books.
The years past and time came for the writer to graduate and leave the school.
The librarian nun gave her, as a graduation gift, a little journal.
In this little book, the nun had recorded her thoughts over the course of many years.
She based her entries on a simple concept.
When she found something to be true, she would record it in her journal.
The writer admitted that at the time she received this precious gift, she was very young and did not truly appreciate its value.
Some years later, the writer heard that her dear friend had past away.
Upon hearing this, she remembered the little journal.
After some digging through things packed away, she found the little book.
She opened it and for the first time read it for the jewel it was.
The insights she found recorded there by the quiet nun were so moving and astute that she, in turn, felt compelled to write an article and share the story with others.
Fortunately that was the article my mother sent me.
I was captivated by the idea of recording what one found to be true, so I went out and purchased a new, crisp paged journal of my own.
Through the years, starting November 9, 1994 (first page inscription), I have plied the simple concept - when I find something to be true, I jot it down in my Book of Truth.
Now, more than fifteen years later, I have quite a collection, and from time to time, I will read through my book's pages.
The entries serve me over and over as reminders of not only the events of my life which spawned the entries, but to act a reminder of the truths I have come to conclusion on.
I am reminded that although we are clever beings, capable of tremendous feats of grace, creativity, generosity, insight, gentleness, kindness and amazing intellectual leaps beyond, we can so easily forget the invaluable lessons cast our way over the course of a lifetime.
We must, from time to time, be reminded of beauty, of peace and of truth.
My hope with this article is that perhaps upon reading this story, others will be inspired to start their own books of truth.