Unconditional Love Includes Truth
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A solid friendship means both people are willing to accept each other for who they are, to offer thoughtful honesty in a way that allows each to grow and be supported. I’ve recently had an experience that has shown me what can happen when that principle breaks down.
Social media audio rooms can be a great way to meet and interact with people from all over the world. I’ve met some great people over the last year on multiple platforms and explored some fascinating subjects. Like any other forum where people come together, drama flares up. Drama that has impact on real people. Recently I was impacted by some events.
I had gotten to know a person across multiple platforms who deals with some difficult personal issues in a very open manner. I liked the person a lot and tried to be supportive.
I also knew he had a past that included some prison time. I didn’t ask what i t was about. I chose to just accept him as I met him. His past also included military service. I never asked about that either. I just respected that he served.
Recently I was sent a link to an article about his past. I read it. I was a bit surprised about what had sent him to prison. But, when a person isn’t well things happen. My experience was this person was working on healing. According to every report I read, his actual service was as a military clerk with one out of country deployment and hadn’t been sent off base during that deployment. Good honourable service.
But, my heart sank as I read on.
He had very much misrepresented his service to others. Made claims of traumatic incidents that didn’t happen, wore medals that were not his etc. That behaviour is known as stolen valour. As I read and thought about what I’d heard him share, he continued to misrepresent his service and to some extent his healing journey.
Anyone who knows me, knows I have spent a big part of my life in service to veterans and their communities. This was gut wrenching for me to learn about this person. It was a blow to the core of my being. I needed to figure out if I could find a way to be true to me and to continue to support him.
As I was coming face-to-face with this knowledge another person on the platform had an issue with my friend. I went quiet…
