The Watchman

Have you ever had a word or phrase that suddenly seems to be everywhere?  Ever since I hiked "The Watchman" trail in Zion National Park, I hear that moniker at least once a week and twice on Sundays.

I was intrigued by the idea of The Watchman, one of the first trails in the park, and its foreboding rock formation guarding the park.  Of course, there's the more practical, and decidedly unpoetic side, that thinks, "It's not watching anything - it's STONE."  

Spock has nothing on me.

Then there's my dog situation.  Ellis barks at a fly on the wall or someone walking outside with equal alarm.  Tilly joins in - bark first, ask questions later.

Hogan doesn't join in.  He knows there is no threat.  If Hogan does bark, I know something or someone is about.  Hogan is a trustworthy watchman.

It's made me think of the false Watchmen in our lives, the ones who cause us to panic, to become outraged, to fear.  Why do we listen to so many wrong voices, both in and out of our heads?  Some deceive us by assuring us we're never in the wrong while others mislead by accusing us of always being at fault.

One definition of a watchman includes that the watchmen is hired.  It is their job to watch, to guard, something that is not theirs, while the true owner is away.  Other than financial reward, some watchmen may not feel much investment in their job, seeing no real value in what they are protecting.  If the owner is away for a long time, the watchmen may get lax, or even make false reports.

How do we keep from being fooled?  Who can we trust?  If the Watchman is unreliable, is it up to only us?

When Tilly and Ellis run around barking, they look ridiculous, not to mention the annoyance factor on my part.  Then I look at Hogan, who is calmly watching the mayhem, unbothered by the false alarms.

I believe in Truth.  I believe a Watchman can be a trustworthy beacon, and that we can discern the difference between that and unreliable sources.

Truth can withstand a health dose of skepticism.  It can even take a double and triple dose of it.  In fact, we should be much more skeptical than we are.  Ask questions, reexamine your assumptions.

We can become unhinged in our world, tossed back and forth by lies.  Or we can awake with trust and faith, knowing that there's a firm, unshakeable foundation.