The Freedom of Truth

Dear Boo and Bubble,

There’s a lot of conversation swirling around these days about facts (or their alternatives), ethics, honesty, moral compass, and all of those essential words used to define what I would call “character”— especially the linchpin of the lexicon…truth. Why, just yesterday, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addressed the cadets at Virginia’s Military Institute in Lexington, VA, and based his remarks on the Biblical verse found in the gospel of John, Chapter 8 verse 32: “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

 

He expanded on this tenet by calling on the graduates to maintain a "fierce defense of the truth," and went on to say, "As I reflect upon the state of our American democracy, I observe a growing crisis in ethics and integrity. If our leaders seek to conceal the truth, or we as people become accepting of alternative realities that are no longer grounded in facts, then we as American citizens are on a pathway to relinquishing our freedom. When we as people, a free people, go wobbly on the truth, even on what may seem the most trivial of matters, we go wobbly on America."

These words are quite profound in the broader sense, but I would like to refocus them a bit on the individual level.  “When we go wobbly on the truth, even on what may seem the most trivial of matters, we go wobbly on ourselves.”

Last night, in a little bit of irony with regard to the topic, Captain and I happened to watch The Legend of Bagger Vance, a movie released back in 2000.  We had seen it before, but one of the beauties of getting old is that you can thoroughly enjoy things again — even if over the course of doing so, your recollections are revived.  Plus, that little bit of extra awareness allows you to see new perspectives or nuances that you might have missed before.  This experience was no exception.

The story is built around a mythical golf exhibition match between legendary players Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen held in Savannah at the height of the Great Depression in 1931.  But, it’s core plot centers on Rannulph Junuh, a favorite son of Savannah from a wealthy family who was a noteworthy golfer until he was called up for service in World War I.  While on the front lines in Europe, he is traumatized when his entire company is lost in battle.  Though he receives the Medal of Honor, he disappears after the war, returning to Georgia years later as a hopeless alcoholic.

Told through the eyes of Hardy Greaves, a young boy (who reminds me so much of you, Alex) who idolized Junuh and his golfing abilities before the war, the story unfolds as one of redemption, forgiveness and…most importantly…truth.  The exhibition is being sponsored by Adele Invergordon in an effort to save the resort her father built just as the Depression hit.  The prize to the winner is $10,000, but investors refuse to support the cause unless there is a local player involved.  When Hardy suggests Junuh, there is much skepticism…especially from Adele who had been his fiancé, but he never contacted her when he came home.   

Hardy is dispatched to try and persuade Junuh to play.  His love and admiration are totally unabashed as he sees the man through the hopeful, forgiving eyes of a child.  Junuh’s response is always “No. I’ve lost my swing.”  However, the prospect of the match does make him curious as to whether he could ever play again.  One night while Junuh tries to hit golf balls into the dark void of night, he is approached by a mysterious traveler carrying a suitcase. The man identifies himself as Bagger Vance and seems to know all about the exhibition as well as much about Junuh’s personal struggles.  He says he will be Junuh's caddie. With Hardy as fore caddie, Bagger helps Junuh come to grips with his personal demons and play golf again.

When the match starts, Jones and Hagen each play well in their distinctive ways, but Junuh plays poorly and is far behind after the first round. With Bagger caddying for him and giving advice, Junuh rediscovers his "authentic swing" in the second round and makes up some ground. In the third round, he closes the gap even more, hitting a hole in one in the process.

Late in the final round, Junuh disregards Bagger's advice at a crucial point and after that plays poorly. He hits a ball into a forest, where he has a traumatic World War I flashback, but Bagger's words help him to see what is important and refocus on the game. Junuh pulls back to a tie with Jones and Hagen, then has a chance to win on the final hole as they have both missed the green with their second shots.  It is so dark that car lights are shining on the 18^th green so that the players can see.  Junuh is in the fairway and, with Hardy and Bagger kneeling behind him, he takes a practice swing.  There is a small stick near the ball.  Junuh reaches down to remove it. In doing so, the ball to moves slightly.  

There are only three people in the whole universe who know the truth—Junuh, Bagger and Hardy. Hardy begs Junuh not to call the required one-stroke penalty on himself.  Jones, Hagen and even the match referee try to give him alternative possibilities as to how the ball could have moved…how could he be sure, it’s so dark…maybe he didn’t remember the exact spot of the ball.  But, in his heart, Junuh knew the truth and he musters the integrity to take the penalty. However, though losing a chance to win because of the penalty, Junuh sinks an improbable putt and the match ends in a gentlemanly three-way tie.

Boys, life may not present us with a “win” every time we do something noble like calling penalties on ourselves…but, that’s not the point.  Truth is about being at peace with yourself; about being reliable in your word and bond; and yes…about being free.  John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”