The Power of Passion vs. the Endurance of Truth

Leaning—to believe you are magnificent and to gradually discover that you are not magnificent—enough labor for one human life. —Czesław Miłosz

When I was in third grade, I learned a lesson that I’m still learning and relearning today. It happened in a Catholic school classroom, during what should have been an ordinary test. When the papers were handed back, the girl who graded mine accused me of cheating. I knew I hadn’t. I had no reason to cheat—I had studied, and the answers were my own. Yet she was so passionate, so certain of my guilt, that my calm denial was no match for her emotion.

The teacher sided with her. In that moment, I realized something that would shape my understanding of the world: passion moves people more quickly than truth does.

It was a hard pill to swallow. I had assumed that truth, standing on its own, was enough. But people respond to what they feel, and passion can be persuasive—even when it’s misguided. That moment planted a seed in me, one that would later grow into a deeper realization about faith, integrity, and what it means to abide in Christ.

I think about this moment often, especially when I see how narratives are shaped in today’s world. Whether in personal relationships, culture, or even faith communities, it’s easy to see how emotion can take center stage while truth waits in the wings. But here’s the thing I’m learning—and relearning—over the years: truth doesn’t need to shout to endure.

Jesus, when He was falsely accused, didn’t fight back with the same passion as His accusers. He didn’t manipulate emotions or try to out-argue them. He stood in the quiet confidence of truth, knowing that truth wins in the end—not always in the moment, but always in eternity.

I’m still learning how to live this out. It’s tempting to think that if we just explain better, speak louder, or argue more persuasively, the truth will be acknowledged. But real power comes from abiding in the truth, not striving to prove it.

So, I come back to this lesson, again and again: Passion may win the moment, but truth wins the long game. And the best thing I can do is keep living from the inside out, trusting that the truth—God’s truth—will stand when everything else fades away.

What’s something you’re learning (or relearning) right now? Let’s talk about it in the comments.