I think it's sad how much we, especially we Christians, feel that we must pretend. We pretend to have everything together--not to question or doubt or disagree with the accepted norm even though, deep down, we do.
We pretend that the difficult issues of pornography, abortion, adultary, extortion, homosexuality, depression, abuse (physical, verbal, and emotional), alcoholism, drug addiction, marital dissatisfaction, ethics, bankruptcy, health care, debt, bitterness, holding grudges, separation, silence, sex, prejudice, stereotypes, deep regret, fantasies, dreams, bullying, doubts about God's goodness and love, about heaven and hell, about the authority of scripture, about missions and evangelism, about Jesus, about the legality of religion, about decisions made in our workplaces...do not exist.
We fear speaking our truth because we fear being judged by those around us, and so we carry around our secrets and allow them to silently eat away at us and make us feel that we're all alone in this world. Yet...we're not.
For every thought that I have, someone else has the same thought. For every feeling you have, someone else has the same feeling. And somehow--and I don't really understand how--knowing that we're not the only ones thinking or feeling as we do provides a certain amount of freedom. It sheds light into darkness. And isn't freedom and light what Jesus came to give us? Isn't he known as the Prince of Peace and the Light of World?
The Post Secret Community (http://www.postsecret.com/) is a place where people can anonymously post their true thoughts and feelings. It's amazing the things that we will post in anonymity--when we know that no one will be able to judge us for speaking our truth--however ugly, gut wrenching, and vulnerable it may be.
As I think about the things that I'd post on Post Secret were I to post, I begin to think: what would you post? And then I begin to wonder, do any of the people that I care about--that I'm connected with on Facebook--have the same hidden thoughts and feelings as me? And if not as me, then as one another? And then I question: If they do, would sharing them with one another--in a network of people who are at least loosely connected with one another and who could pray for one another and send one another positive thoughts of light and love and freedom--make a difference?
So I want to try something. Will you take a step to release some of your "secrets" (questions, doubts, confessions, regrets, struggles, stupid thoughts, whatever) today? Don't worry. You don't have to tell me--or anyone else--who you are. Just comment on this post, and I will receive a notification that someone has commented on the post but I won't know who--and I won't try to figure it out. I won't make the comments public; therefore, no one will be able to tell who you might be because of time or URL address. I'll simply compile a list of what was said--assuming anything is said--and then we, as a community of believers--and even non-believers--can know that we are not alone. And you can all know that I, Deanna Deaton, will care for and stand with not one ounce of judgment for every word said...and that God, Creator/Redeemer/Sustainer loves you--period.
Give it a shot? Share this with your other friends? I know that I could probably go about this some other way, but for now, with the time, energy, and technological skills that I have, this is the best way that I can think of to help shed light on darkness in a safe, non-threatening way. But maybe, just maybe, one day, we'll each have the courage, openness, and freedom to speak truthfully about ALL of ourselves and know that we're not alone...especially within the context of the Body of Christ.
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