Sometimes I wonder if I’m too transparent in my writing. As my husband, John, has told me before, “We don’t have skeletons in our closet . . . because you put them on the front lawn for everyone to see!”
I was thinking about this the other day in Sunday School class. We were talking about sins and struggles, and I was going to confess a few of my own, but class ended before I had the chance. (Oh Rats!)
Oh, well. I thought. They can read about them when Generation NeXt Parenting comes out this month.
It’s not as if I LIKE sharing all the times when I’ve really screwed up. I don’t. I would like to be perfect, but since I’m not . . . then the least I can do is share how God gets me out of the numerous messes I get myself in. Because, through that, my hope is that others will be able to see Jesus in me.
All these thoughts were swirling around my head as I came across a quote I underlined in a book I’m reading, “The Beloved Disciple” by Beth Moore. Here is what Beth said:
“As [the disciples] watched this man named Jesus, this carpenter’s son, and they fellowshipped with Him then witnessed His work, what do you think they saw? Consistency? Versatility? Unwavering passion? Or a lamb as often as a lion? The center of all attention? Or a teacher that became a student of all those around Him? We know they saw absolute authenticity, but how do you imagine they saw it portrayed?
“Don’t think for a minute that thinking about such matters is a waste of time. The more we grasp the flesh-and-blood reality of these encounters and try to imagine the intimate details the disciples witnessed in Christ the better! What we’re studying isn’t religious fiction or simple Christian tradition. Christ walked into people’s lives and transformed them.” p. 25 (emphasis mine)
So Beth, thank you, for doing a good job summing up how I feel about my writing and my transparency. Christ walked into MY life and transformed it. To show the transformation, I often have to share the “befores” to point people to the changes Christ made. (Thank you, Lord, for all your “afters”.)
The flesh-and-blood reality that Jesus uses today is His will, ways, and words lived out in me. And they are encounters I write about, both point-blank in non-fiction or wrapped within a fictional story. (Yes, there is more of ME in those novels than you might think!)
The encounters I share are ones I pray will bring authenticity and transformation in the lives of others as well. Like the glass in a frame, my desire is that when others look at the picture of my life, they will see Jesus through me.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Anyone who has ever read my writing- or heard me speak- “gets” that;)
Patsy Clairmont said God uses “cracked pots” to let His light shine through.
Guess I’m a crack-pot;)
Although- I do always get permission before I share a story that involves family or friends(it’s a rule-I love them- they are not open fodder for mom’s writing or speaking;)
They can veto any story not to be shared.
They never have, probably because it’s always about ME being the dork;) They’re good with that;)
I aadmit it’s uncomfortable though-like being naked in public. Feels like my spiritual and psychological cellulite is always on display;)
Man- just once it would be nice to feel impressed to write a nicely “airbrushed” word picture of the perfect me;)
‘cept no-one would buy it- for even a minute;)
There is something so powerful about connecting in our imperfections, instead of pretending to be perfect- it allows the focus to change from us- and pursuing our perfection- to Christ, and worshipping His!
man- that was long- sorry;)
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Anyone who has ever read my writing- or heard me speak- “gets” that;)
Patsy Clairmont said God uses “cracked pots” to let His light shine through.
Guess I’m a crack-pot;)
Although- I do always get permission before I share a story that involves family or friends(it’s a rule-I love them- they are not open fodder for mom’s writing or speaking;)
They can veto any story not to be shared.
They never have, probably because it’s always about ME being the dork;) They’re good with that;)
I aadmit it’s uncomfortable though-like being naked in public. Feels like my spiritual and psychological cellulite is always on display;)
Man- just once it would be nice to feel impressed to write a nicely “airbrushed” word picture of the perfect me;)
‘cept no-one would buy it- for even a minute;)
There is something so powerful about connecting in our imperfections, instead of pretending to be perfect- it allows the focus to change from us- and pursuing our perfection- to Christ, and worshipping His!
man- that was long- sorry;)
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Anyone who has ever read my writing- or heard me speak- “gets” that;)
Patsy Clairmont said God uses “cracked pots” to let His light shine through.
Guess I’m a crack-pot;)
Although- I do always get permission before I share a story that involves family or friends(it’s a rule-I love them- they are not open fodder for mom’s writing or speaking;)
They can veto any story not to be shared.
They never have, probably because it’s always about ME being the dork;) They’re good with that;)
I aadmit it’s uncomfortable though-like being naked in public. Feels like my spiritual and psychological cellulite is always on display;)
Man- just once it would be nice to feel impressed to write a nicely “airbrushed” word picture of the perfect me;)
‘cept no-one would buy it- for even a minute;)
There is something so powerful about connecting in our imperfections, instead of pretending to be perfect- it allows the focus to change from us- and pursuing our perfection- to Christ, and worshipping His!
man- that was long- sorry;)
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Anyone who has ever read my writing- or heard me speak- “gets” that;)
Patsy Clairmont said God uses “cracked pots” to let His light shine through.
Guess I’m a crack-pot;)
Although- I do always get permission before I share a story that involves family or friends(it’s a rule-I love them- they are not open fodder for mom’s writing or speaking;)
They can veto any story not to be shared.
They never have, probably because it’s always about ME being the dork;) They’re good with that;)
I aadmit it’s uncomfortable though-like being naked in public. Feels like my spiritual and psychological cellulite is always on display;)
Man- just once it would be nice to feel impressed to write a nicely “airbrushed” word picture of the perfect me;)
‘cept no-one would buy it- for even a minute;)
There is something so powerful about connecting in our imperfections, instead of pretending to be perfect- it allows the focus to change from us- and pursuing our perfection- to Christ, and worshipping His!
man- that was long- sorry;)
On a much smaller scale, God has called me to be utterly transparent when I’m teaching. Sometimes it’s a bit uncomfortable because I’d love to pretend I’m perfect, but I’m not. I just have to balance that transparency with honoring my husband’s desire for more privacy 🙂 I firmly believe that it’s in our honesty that people are drawn to Christ. Becuase if he can use and love me, He can do the same for anyone else.
I am pretty much an open book, I enjoy sharing my thoughts and my life. And having an online journal is just what I need, I get to be myself.
I soooooo appreciate all your comments! I totally agree about getting permission before sharing. I read anything personal to my husband and/or kids before I share it. I don’t want my transparency to hurt them.
Which means, there are some things I don’t share–mostly their struggles. They don’t seem to mind too much when I share mine, it helps me to work through them in a way!
Writing is a great way to show what we’ve learned, and to help us work through the things we struggle with. I try to be careful in being too personal, but I like to share about things that God has taught me.
Guess that’s why I enjoy writing fiction so much. I can weave those things into a story and nobody but me ever has to know how close to truth they really are.
Yet the lesson can still shine through.