The day began like most of them do. There was more time to think since retirement. Even now, the days are not hard to fill. Thinking is a noble vocation. Many problems yield to concerted thought. Hypothesis requires analysis. Separating truth from fable takes research. Those who admonish us to simply trust them need examination.

Albert Einstein developed the core concepts of the theory of relativity, both special and general, in his mind through intense, visual thought experiments. (Gedarankenexperimenten), often pictured himself riding light beams or falling elevators. He used these mental simulations to visualize physical paradoxes and intuition, later translating them into mathematical frameworks.’

A truth becomes clear when we listen to rhetoric versus reality. Not everything that is said for fact is such. As children, we played follow the leader. We continue to follow, as adults, a charismatic, compelling speaker who can captivate our attention with the cadence of their words. We want to believe what we are told meshes with our thinking. Our peers nod their agreement with the Leader, but we do not want to disagree. After all, what the Leader says sounds promising.

‘Welcome, all come in and make yourself at home,’ the Speaker said. ‘Here we are set apart from the world and its evils,’ the Speaker said. ‘We are hidden from the world and set apart…we are the chosen,’ the Speaker assured. ‘We live communally and pool all of our assets for the good of the group,’ the Speaker continued. ‘We gather for Bible Study five times a week,’ the Speaker explained. ‘We are the light and all around us is darkness, we are a candle in the night,’ the Speaker whispered with tears in his eyes.

‘American for real Americans,’ the Leader said to thunderous applause. ‘We must purify our nation and our blood and soil,’ the Leader said. ‘Prices are going down every day…do not believe what your lying eyes tell you,’ the Leader said as he danced. ‘Do not listen to the Fake News or those who do not agree with me…I am always telling you the truth…the truth is what I say it is,’ the Leader laughed.

Many were quiet. It was difficult to understand what was happening. Understanding takes focus. It is easy to believe the story rather than investigate the truth. A lie runs around the block while the truth is still putting on its running shoes.