The Transparent Christian Woman

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where

the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass

the glory of the Lord, are changed into

the same image from glory to glory, even

as by the Spirit of the Lord.

II Corinthians 3:17,18

Over the last ten or so years, the word “transparent” has come to the forefront in our culture's vocabulary. It's an old word but maintains it's meaning. However, we're hearing it more and more. Politicians from the White House down to the mayors office of the smallest town in our country have all talked about being more transparent in their dealings with the public.

What is transparency? We might say that it's like glass in a physical sense. Glass in our windows are a necessity but just because they can be seen through, there can be problems even with glass. If windows are dirty, seeing clearly through a window may be skewed. In some of the old churches and cabins in the mountains near here, some of the glass in windows has been poured which causes a ripple effect in the window glass. You can still see through them but again, whatever is on the other side of the glass may appear to be warped.

Transparency as we are looking at we human beings, means that we are totally honest about who we are and who we want to be. It means that you and I strive in every way to be real in everyday life. These things are not the front we put up before others. These things are who we are even in the privacy of our lives when we are alone and no one else is around.

My husband and I have really had some smiles since talking with our daughter Beverly in recent days. She and a friend took their children to a special event. On the way home, our nearly five year old granddaughter Madelyn fell against the metal arm of a bench and got a pretty bad cut on her forehead. Of course it hurt and really bled but they got to a hospital and she bravely endured receiving six “string band aids” which is what the name is for stitches at that particular children's hospital emergency room.

While on the way to the hospital, Beverly prayed aloud for the situation they found themselves in. She prayed out loud with Madelyn for wisdom for the doctors, easing of pain and healing of the wound. Later when at the hospital, in their private room, Madelyn quietly said to her mom, “That prayer's not working.” Madelyn heard the sincere prayer of her mom but as far as she was concerned, the healing of the hurt just wasn't coming fast enough. I must hasten to add that Madelyn is one of the praying-est little girls I know of. She loves to pray and already at her young age, knows more about prayer than most adults. I believe God dearly loves the total honesty and yes, transparency of little children.

The thing is, I believe God dearly loves the total honesty of any of His children. We can do that without questioning God or being offensive. I know there have been times I have prayed about some things that I haven't gotten an answer for and I've felt like saying, “Lord, this just isn't working.” God wants us to be people of transparency and this is where real, genuine transparency begins...in our honest relationship with Him. Perhaps the main person we are the least transparent with is with God. We know He knows and sees everything about us but we are very often dishonest even with Him. I feel from the top of my head to the sole of my feet that the only people capable of true transparency are young children and Christians, Christians who are in right relationship with God. How can we expect a God- cursing, people-abusing, Jesus ignoring person to be transparent...just can't be done.

Let me suggest sometyhing that can help people in being more transparent. I suggest that one must step completely away from a life of pretense. When we live in a world of pretense, then we aren't being honest with ourselves, let alone others. We women are really good at this thing of pretense because of our growing up years. We grew up being pretenders. Do you ever talk to yourself when no one is around?...come on, honesty remember? As little girls we pretended and in our play, we talked to ourselves a lot. We played school, lining up our baby dolls to be our students. We cut out paper dolls, dressed them and pretended where they would go and what they would do as we moved them about. We played dress up with our mom's curtains or whatever we could get our hands on. We loved clopping along in our mom's high heels. We pretended...and by the way, we still do and it's not an insane thing to do, but it's not a good practice. During some bad, stressful days, pretending can ease the tension. However, that pretending can become hurtful when we seek to be someone before others we know we will never be. 

Casting down imaginations, and every high

thing that exalteth itself against the

knowledge of God, and bringing into

captivity every thought to the

obedience of Christ.

II Corinthians 10:5

 

Can we, with little Madelyn, be perfectly honest before God and even say, “It's not working.” We don't have to fear that people won't like the real us or that God will be mad at us. My first concern is to please my Heavenly Father and allow Him to take care of the rest. Honesty doesn't have to be offensive. In fact, honesty is meant to be a very meek and healthy way of life.

I've been reading in the four Gospels all of the red letters where Jesus did the speaking. I've shut out all of the circumstances and events (black letters) and am just reading what He has said. You will find no person more transparent than Jesus, even at the risk of losing friends, making enemies and even facing danger.

If we just let Jesus work in and through us, we'll never have to try to remember who we were yesterday or last week. We will walk in the freedom of true honesty and transparency. I hasten to add that our family and closest friends deserve our being consistent in our daily walk. When we meet new people, we won't have to think about impressing them with a fake front. We can walk in the freedom of just being “us” ...being who God created and wants us to be. This isn't really too difficult when we rely on our Heavenly Father to instruct and lead us as we walk with Him in close relationship which really is the key to it all.

Father...transparency is so much easier than putting on a front for others. I have my strengths that You've put in me but have my weaknesses that You know about as well. There are days when I have to say with Madelyn that “it's not working.” I want to be honest before You and others. Help it be so in my life. I love You. Amen