Transparency June 24, 2008
Posted by Anya in : I won't keep things purposely vague , trackbackThis is definitely an issue of online-dom. In real life, we can hide some things — and hide them quite effectively and for years. But online, we can hide things forever, especially from the people who only know us online. It’s possible that when I’m IMing someone, they’ll pick up that I’m not in a great mood or whatever… but the people who pick up on those things are generally the ones who know me and see me all the time anyway, and have a very good idea of how I ought to sound.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Edith Schaeffer wrote about how our lives (especially in families) should be like doors — having hinges so that they can be open to others, but also having locks so that, at times, we can be alone.
But it’s not necessarily a good thing, either. In Ephesians 5, Paul talks about wicked deeds which the world does. Then he goes on to say, “…now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” We are not going to be doing a very good job exposing the “unfruitful works of darkness” if we are trying to keep parts of our own life out of the light!
 Then our task, as Christians, is to fulfill what Paul then tells us to do in verses 15 and 16: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” What is “the best use of time”? What should we spend our time on? If we put no restraints on what we are sharing, is that really what is most helpful? Or are we going to the opposite extreme of the “Stained Glass Masquerade” which Casting Crowns sings about?
…So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see themAre we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain?
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade… …But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to beWould your arms be open?
Or would you walk away?
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay?…I think I’ve been blessed with friends — both in real life and online — who hold me accountable to be real. And a benefit of being homeschooled (*grins*) is that it’s awfully hard to be someone around your family and someone else at school. Antion wrote about this. (He is so helpful in doing this sort of thing; I’m editing it slightly for clarity.) “You know, sometimes I wonder how much I should actually write in here. I mean, like I said, my life should be open for everyone to see, critique, attack, etc? But is this the way to do it? I don’t know. There are just some things, I wonder what will happen once I put them on here. What will people think? But then again should I worry about that?” He has been enabled to be transparent — at least with those who are close to him — about his life because of the very thing that he used as a header on an old blog. “My life… for Him.”Â
Ultimately, that’s what ought to be enabling all of us to have lives in the light. Knowing, as the Heidelberg Catechism put it, “That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.”
Wow. I… am not my own… all things must be subservient to my salvation… sincerely willing and ready… to live unto him.
James Ward sings about it beautifully. Unfortunately, his music is really hard to find. Fortunately, I found it online. Listen to it. :) Go to: http://www.newcityfellowship.com/music.html
and then, in the little music box, click on “I Belong to You.” Enjoy.
So I’ll be striving to keep my life in Him, something that can be transparent without me wincing. And, of course, looking forward to the day when the end result will be brought about… something like what Tolkien wrote about.
But to the wizard’s eye there was a faint change, just a hint as it were of transparency, about him…
“Still that must be expected,” said Gandalf to himself. “He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can.”
Comments»
Good thoughts, Anya. One of my friends recently told me that I’m a very brave individual, not afraid to stand up and do crazy things in front of people that they might shun me for. But I don’t really think it’s a matter of bravery for me. (I mean, come on - I freak out when I see an ant in the house, lol.
) I think it’s more a matter of how I live my life. The more I live transparently, the more I take everything out of hiding, the more I’m willing to do “crazy” things in front of people. Simply because I have nothing to hide. And when I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to fear. I live my life for Christ, and His opinion is the only one that really matters.
I suppose, really, that this post fits in with your “Maybe this World is a barren place” post. After all, if we were all a bit more transparent about our struggles, it would be easier for us to help each other and show compassion. We wouldn’t need such “high vision glasses” to work out what was happening.
*sigh* Well. Feel free to ask me sometimes about how I *really* am…
(Just be forewarned that I’ll turn around and ask the same question! ;))