My life is an open book, in many ways. I try to be relatively transparent because I realize that it’s part of my ministry to let people see me be human. I’m not perfect. I’m not Super Mom. But, if someone finds encouragement through my frustrations, through the goofy stories that I tell about my boys, and even through the grief that I’ve exposed over the past few years, then I feel like it’s worth sharing.

What about the times when I don’t want to share? I’ve been thinking a lot lately about public figures (not that I am one, by any means, but I think there are similar struggles in our efforts to balance openness and privacy). Does the elected official have any hope of hiding her child’s mug shot from news reporters? Does the Hollywood star have any chance of downplaying his crumbling marriage? Does the professional athlete really think that no one will find out about his drug use? These are the makings of the evening news, sure, but what about issues on a smaller scale … between “little” people like us?

Sometimes, my heart is heavy and I write about it. Other times, my heart is heavy and you may never know. Therein lies the challenge: transparency vs. opacity.

In a world of news at your fingers,
Privacy is just a setting:
How much do you share with whom?
Transparency crowds out
Personal space and
Opacity
All that’s left
Is just
News