By Mike Towle

Regina Sun Community News

He wants the truth, even if others don’t, because the truth is important to him. At 79 years “young,” John Kurtz wrote a book entitled The Simple Truth. It is influenced not only by his Christian beliefs, but by great philosophers, academics, and a lifetime of experiences. “A lifetime of experiences,” says Kurtz, “that have convinced me of the value of truth.” Kurtz was a businessman for more than 60 years, and spent the last 20 involved in the art business. He worked at the Assiniboia Gallery and as manager for renowned Cree artist Allen Sapp. “When I grew up,” he says, “there was true and there was false. Now, especially in universities, people make everything hard to believe in. There’s no truth, just reality or fact.” He’s not lamenting the lack of “old-school” values in young people. It’s not his style, nor concern. His concern is how a judge justifies an adult having sex with a 12-year-old girl. Or how “democratic” governments keep secrets from the public. The truth Kurtz is searching for is the kind that everyone, no matter what religion, culture, or political background, can relate to. It’s about making the right choices, and how to live a fulfilled life. “All of us have choices. A decision to go to a bar and have a drink may be nice. But to drive afterwards, get in an accident and kill someone, is a bad choice. “It used to be an excuse before the judge, that you were drunk so you didn’t mean to kill anyone. Now we know that it’s a bad choice to make.”

The book talks a lot about his personal experiences, the people he’s met, and what he’s learned from them. Dr. Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Holocaust, taught Kurtz the theory of logo-therapy. It says humans can discover the meaning of life in three different ways. Creating a work or doing a deed is one way. Experiencing something or encountering somone is second. Thirdly is the attitude people take toward unavoidable suffering. In 1996, his 40-year-old son, James Kurtz, suddenly passed away. This was the unavoidable suffering he had to experience, and his attitude was put to the test. With the help of family, friends, and a personal book he and his wife made in memory of James, he was able to truly appreciate the life of his son, instead of focusing on his all-too-soon death. “Could we really complain about 40 happy years with him? I only prayed that God would allow me to finish the book in his memory.” Kurtz met a lady who’s daughter was murdered and grandson committed suicide. It was hard for her, he says, but she had faith. The first thing she did was forgive, and then move on. Kurtz believes having faith is missing in today’s world. “People today are worried about a (nuclear) attack, and they’re afraid of dying. But many of them don’t have a belief (in any truth), so why worry? “If you believe in simple things, it gives you hope. Malcom Muggeridge said, ‘Even if I’m wrong, I’ve lost nothing.’ So why not (believe in something)?” In 1946, Kurtz and some friends were driving back to Saskatchewan from a convention in Ottawa when their car, a brand new Mercury, crashed and rolled over. At the time, Kurtz tells, there were no seat belts in cars, but all of them survived. He’s often wondered why their lives were spared? He doesn’t know the answer, nor does he know why he was spared and his son was not. Nevertheless, he’s still grateful. Since that time he’s met royalty and prime ministers, as well as many others who’ve left an impression on his life. As Allen Sapp’s manager, Kurtz was with him at Rideau Hall, he chatted with Pierre Trudeau on the phone in Montreal, and met Prince Charles in Regina. “Trudeau was very easy to talk to on the phone,” says Kurtz. He met Prince Charles once at the opening of an art gallery, and again at the lunch proceeding the ceremony. “He said to me the second time, ‘I think I already met you, or else I met your twin’.” All the big people he met were very “down to earth,” he explains. Talking to them is what he enjoys most. Perhaps his life was spared so he could meet so many interesting people. Or maybe it was spared so he could write a book about “truth.” Maybe it was for none of those reasons. The important thing, however, is he’s alive to tell his story. He hopes by reading his story people will be encouraged to look at their own. “Everybody has a story to tell,” he says, “and every story is interesting.” When he watches TV, Kurtz is more inclined to watch a show or documentary about something or someone who really exists. He believes many lessons of “truth” can be found in real life stories. He believes the Bible is based on real life stories, and full of truth. But if it’s not, then it’s just “great” fictional stories, and still full of truth. Either way, the Bible is influential to him, and he doesn’t see why non-Christians can’t be influenced by it, either. “Even if it’s just taken as literature, or fiction, you couldn’t write any better,” says Kurtz. What’s the truth? Kurtz only knows what he believes to be true. He believes people should search for knowledge, have faith in truth, and be thankful for everything and everyone around them. A book launch and exhibition of the book’s paintings will be held Sept. 27, from 2-4 p.m., at the Assiniboia Gallery, 2429 11th Ave.