Dr. Jack sat back in his chair, put his arms behind his head and with a smirk repeated, “It’s all in the formula.”

I replied, “I truly understand the concept, but the formula is out of reach for me.” Then, pointing to the whiteboard, continued, “That formula is only letters and numbers.”

He replied, “I know Tom, but for me numbers and letters represent the unquestionable truth.”

“I find that difficult to understand,” I replied with a sigh.“Unless it is truth for me, somehow externally proven and understandable in words, I can’t simply accept what is unquestionable truth for you as understandable truth for me.”

Jack and I were discussing concepts of space, cosmic anomalies, such as black holes and distance expressed as the speed of light. Traveling from the Sun to the Earth for example: the Sun can be found a mere 93 million miles away, or 8.333 minutes away at the speed of light.

I fully understand basic concepts discernible by words I comprehend, however when one replaces words with numbers and letters – for example, E=MC2 or A=B+(C/D) – well, quite frankly, I’m lost. Just because a formula is proposed as truth, it’ll only be truth for me if I can embrace the knowing. The most amazing grace of truth is found in the knowing.

“I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see” – amazing words are these. I am searching and this road less traveled leads me to a deeper understanding of my early church-taught concepts of God.

I must translate religious formulation – for example, “faith-based” concepts like Trinity, Hell, Heaven and giving men more value than women – into what is understandable for me. What is understandable for me will be found in the embrace of provable logic-centered truth, historical research and intelligent discussion.

I can’t turn my back on the light of history or I will remain blind and in the dark. The most amazing grace of truth is found in the knowing.

At the end of the road less travelled there is a wide-ranging number of paths, which will lead me from the now into the next. Travelling towards these paths finds me searching for greater explanations than those placed in my life by family traditions, religious dogmas of faith and life necessities – work, sleep, education etc.

I will not know “God” – the One – until I understand a greater concept than those based on humanities need to be “saved.” If you’ve never had a father in your life, I’ll never be able to explain to you the joy and peace I’ve found in my Dad’s arms. The most amazing grace of truth is found in the knowing.

It’s Jan. 1, 2012, almost midnight. I am writing this while my wife, Chris – who is the center of my life – reads yet another book, and I put the finishing touches on this column. These finishing touches are simply the opening of the gates that will lead me to an inner peace of amazing grace.

Grace is the gift of intelligence and ability, the opportunity of peace, being loved and knowing it. I am asking you, those gifted with amazing grace, to share those truths found on your journey in life. Please contact me by email – tomhunkelecft@hotmail.com. Be part of my journey, part of my search for truth. The most amazing grace of truth is found in the knowing.

Thomas H. Hunkele of Troup County is a certified fitness trainer and president of Lakeside Fitness.