The Storm of Being Known

As I write this, a cold front is blowing in. By 5, the temp will have dropped by 20 degrees, by 7 the wind chill will be in the twenties and the wind itself will be gusty. Not to mention that it's kinda drizzly and damp. For those of us in Texas, this is about as close as we get to "the weather outside is frightful."

Needless to say, the weather has me wanting to lock the door to the house, light a fire, crawl up in a blanket and hide from the world. I love the colder weather because it lets me just relax, in my safe, warm den.

It's why I like storms in general, actually. For me, there is nothing better than cozying up in a 'safe place,' and not being bothered by people. Yes, I am not a people person, despite being a pastor. I don't mind being around people, but it drains me. I've come to think that part of the reason it drains me is most interactions with people is about both of us trying to find a 'safe place.' You know, talking about what's comfortable, easy and not at all painful or personal. I also grow weary in large groups of people because I get real tired of holding up my mask- aka my defensive false self- so I can be like everyone else, who incidently, are also often holding their masks up as well.

There is no more draining exercise for me than hanging out with people who don't want to reveal what's really going on with them, despite claiming to be open and transparent. They hide behind sarcasm, arrogance, religion, or knowledge. They don't admit when they make mistakes, or they try to redesign what they did so that it's not really a mistake. And they never, ever admit their weakness. When they do, they admit it in a safe way. They never come out and say, "I struggle with an addiction to pornography, " or "I have a tendency to be an arrogant jerk," or "I'm worried about what's going on." No, they make vague, spiritual sounding admissions like, "I'm having a tough time, but trusting God." It sounds good, but it's missing something:

An actual request for help, from God or His church.

We don't want to ask for help- maybe a vague, "I need prayer for some stuff,"- because it makes us look weak, unspiritual. When in actuality, admitting our failures and fears is key to ACTUALLY trusting God. Matthew 11:28-30 has Jesus asking us to give these fears to Him: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”. And most of us do give it Him.

But there is more: we need to give it to each other.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.--Galatians 6:1-3

Our attempts to mask our failures and fears are actually a deception perpetrated unto ourselves, by ourselves. I think we fail to do this because it would be like going out of our safe, warm den on a blustery, damp winter night. We've made a fire that gives us comfort while we sip our coffee/hot cocoa in our pj's, and we quite like just sitting here, not bothered by anyone. But this metaphorical storm doesn't let up like the one coming tonight for me will. This storm will grow, and we will hide, deeper and deeper until we are trapped in a prison that we call our 'safe place.' We will be disconnected from the ones who want to help us and, ultimately, we will begin to be disconnected from Jesus. Because the more deception that "I'm OK!" we pour on, the more we believe the lie that we don't need help.

As much as we would love to stay safe, we need to take our problems to those who love us: family, close friends, and especially fellow Christ Followers. Now, I don't think we need to share EVERY LITTLE PROBLEM- that would be rather High-School-Drama-ish, don't you think? But we do need to take the things we can't handle, the things we are tempted to hide from others, to the people who not only can help, but want to.

So, sometimes we need to put down the mug of warm beverage, put on a coat and douse the fire, then open the door and walk into the storm. We've got to face the raging problems- not alone, but with those who love us. If you're dealing with something you try so hard to hide behind some sort of mask- share the burden with someone who will pray for you, someone who will check up on you. Someone who will love you unconditionally.

It's one of the big reasons Jesus came to us.


PS: I don't get to relax by the fire tonight, I too have to go into the literal storm of cold and put up posters for our church around town and campus. And you know what, I'm doing with some fellow Christ followers- giving up comfort for a night to go shed a little hope (hopefully) into the lives of those who need it.

But after that- the fireplace and hot cocoa are on!