My wife will often ask me, “Do you know that, or are you just making something up?”
It’s not random, it’s an honest question,
and probably because I have just made a statement
that may or may not actually be filled with truthiness.
It could be real, it could be crap.
Men make stuff up.
We do.
We get uncomfortable with not knowing and boldly fill in gaps.
We don’t want to feel stupid,
So we take an opportunity to feel smart…even if it’s stupid.
We are most definitely not lying…or at least not intending to,
We are making a persuasive guess.
We do this because we are uncomfortable with unresolved tension.
If there is something knowable that is unknown and can be known,
Then we simply provide the knowledge, whether its known or not.
See how we help the process?
Caravaggio did this with historical proportion.
His painting “Doubting Thomas” records a moment that didn’t actually happen.
Thomas never did actually touch Jesus.
After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “ Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “ Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!” Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:26-28
He was invited to dig into Christ’s wounds, but he didn’t.
(Well, it’s not recorded anyway)
I know why he painted it that way…
There’s tension and you can’t paint a picture of someone not touching Jesus.
See how this happens?
Caravaggio didn’t do anything wrong.
He used his imagination and is remembered throughout time immemorial.
That’s all We’re trying to do.
Maybe one of our persuasive guesses will heal the land,
Or vanquish freezer burn, or invent odorless carpet,
Or create a seventh Star Wars movie…
