The Courage to Live Transparently

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word transparent as "having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that bodies lying beyond are seen clarly; fine or shear enough to be seen through; free from pretense or deceit; readily understood; characterized by visibility and accessibility of information..."  As I read that I thought to myself, "No hidden agendas, no secrets."

I can only wonder what life would be like if all people lived transparently, openly and honestly without hidden agendas.  How might our communication change and all of our relationships enriched?  I have to believe that our frustration and stress levels would be significantly reduced, which would improve our physical well being, because the need to read between the lines, or read the tea leaves as I like to call it, would be removed.  Just the thought of that feels very liberating to me.  Why is it that people feel such a need to expend so much energy pedaling like hell on the inside in order to keep the mask up on the outside?

I believe it is out of the fear of being known.  The irony is that at the core of every being is the desire to know and to be known.  The caveat is that people want to be known without shame.  They want to be loved and accepted in spite of their warts and their flaws.  But because they fear exposure of being less than perfect, somewhere along the way they determine that the risk is just too great and they consciously choose to put on a mask.  So many people find it easier to burn precious life energy wearing a mask than to find the courage within to boldly face that giant of fear and slay it!

I am one of the most transparent people I know, and I can attest to the fact that it requires courage.  And while I meet people are attracted to it, I often find that they will take advantage of it.  The challenge is to learn to live transparently without leaving myself vulnerable to being deeply wounded by those who are less than honest, to put it nicely. 

To those courageous sojourners who are on this path with me I say, "Bravo!"  I would love to hear from you because we are a rare breed and we need to encourage one another.  The temptation to put up not only a mask, but iron clad walls, is huge at times.  Yet I know that in so doing I would be living dishonestly with myself or with others, and I would not be following Christ's example.  I truly believe that the greater choice is to continue to live transparently knowing that I may be hurt, and trusting Christ to be my shield and my guide.  I hope you will do the same.


References

Transparent. (n.d.) In Miriam-Webster's online dictionary.  Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transparent.