honesty

Perhaps you can relate to this. You are in the car on the way to church and you can cut the air with a knife. Words have been exchanged that morning. Tension is palpable.

Yet when you get out of the car at church it’s all happy smiles. I hate masks. I detest the pressure to portray something that isn’t real.

When I first started in the ministry we were taught to hide our human failings and to never let people see us struggling. The thinking was that we had to be a positive example to others. This thinking was at best misguided and at worst downright dangerous.

If people think the church leadership is close to living perfect lives they will be reluctant to open up about their struggles and feel they are a second rate Christian because of those challenges

Many years ago I disclosed from the pulpit my battles with mental illness and have maintained a high degree of transparency since then. Some Pastors are shocked I would do that because it shatters the “mystique” centred around us. I say let it shatter.

By removing our masks we invite others to do the same and get the support they need in a non judgmental way, just the way Jesus did. God doesn’t rub our noses in our sin, He rubs our sin away.

Are you comfortable being transparent?

#honesty #virtue

I have noticed a very large number of fake profiles recently.No writings.No history.Fake people trolling and bating vulnerable people for fun.it is obvious when an account is fake on here. Unnecessary and sick to be completely honest.I do not respond.People use the sight for support.Not to be questioned,mocked or ridiculed.I have found myself filtering my writing...should beable to express without looking over ones shoulder on a site like this.

#peace #honesty #simplicity

Hello Mind Conquerors!

Like i would like to do every friday, i will repropose this initiative, these are the concepts:

- Sharing how you are feeling in this moment

- Activating notifications on this post

- Reading comments as they are being made, and replying to those to which you can relate to, either with practical advices or kind words :)

If you want to, feel free to give any suggestion to change or improve this post!

The idea is to make us talk with each other in a form that look like a community chat, to stimulate communication and give life to interesting conversations!

If you don't want to comment or reply, don't feel like you have to!

You may just read or skip without any problem, as you please 😊

Thanks to everyone who spent time reading this post :)

#Weeklysharing #conqueryourmind #feelings

#MentalHealth #Suicide #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder

#ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #rarediseas #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Schizophrenia #Abuse

#Happiness #Sadness #freedom #Fear #enjoy #anger #calm #disgust #Pride #neutrality #peace #Stress

#honesty #Openess #dark #light

I love truth. I hate lies. I made a pact with my best friend years ago that no matter how embarrassing or difficult we would always be completely honest with each other.

I made a promise to my wife some years ago that I would always be honest with her. Makes things so simple. She knows I will always tell her the truth when she asks my opinion about her cooking, her clothing etc. I also try to tell her the truth now about my mental health.

Lately though I have found myself being less than honest about my pain levels as I recover from a total knee replacement. I don’t want her to worry when the pain is not being contained but I am conscious that being less than truthful can be a slippery slope. It’s scary being completely honest, it’s hard to be totally vulnerable. Yet it’s something I must keep striving to achieve.