Baggage

Honesty. Why is it so hard to get right? Why do we put so much effort into avoiding the truth about how we're doing in our daily walk? Every Sunday service has a meet-and-greet time. Why does it seem that 'good' is the default answer to 'how are you?'. If we're doing so 'good', why are our lives filled with trouble, pain, and all sorts of trials?

Are we afraid of exposing who we really are? Do we think that 'good' is all anybody else wants to hear, so we don't bother telling them the truth?

I'm guilty. I do this all the time. And I confess it's due to feeling that others don't want to hear about the not-so-tidy bits of my life. I've had experiences in the past where I try telling how I really am doing during the meet-and-greet time, and more often than not, I get utter confusion. When people don't hear the magical codeword indicating everything is fine and dandy, they tend to panic. (what do I do? what do I say? ahhhhhhhh...)

Granted, this is anecdotal, and rule #1 in constructing an argument is that all anecdotes are evil. Fair enough.

Alas, I've never been very good at social conventions. Perhaps it's not socially proper to tell others your problems in a casual context. Perhaps people who undergo periods of depression and anxiety should be sequestered from public view. Perhaps one of the prerequisites for social gatherings is that you check your emotional, physical, and spiritual baggage at the door. Perhaps so.

But if so, it doesn't seem right.

If this sounds like a bitter diatribe, I don't mean it to be. Maybe the problem is me. Maybe I'm being too sensitive. Maybe the vast majority of the people I shake hands with mean what they say.

Maybe so, but deep down inside me, I have doubts, which is why I'm blogging on the subject.

Say what you mean. Mean what you say. It's harder than it sounds.

Until next time,
- Daniel