“We are who we pretend to be, so we must be careful of who we pretend to be.” ~Kurt Vonnegut
The problem with being who we are, and
displaying the person we are, can be contradictive at times. We want to
put our best foot forward. We want to be joyful, happy, strong,
courageous, kind, generous, patient--and for some, godly. We are who we
have become after years and years of experiences, problems and hurdles,
victories and losses. What we do in life and how we interact with
others is a direct result of the experiences we have endured and
overcome, or enjoyed and absorbed.
Sometimes I think we pretend we are "fine" when we are NOT fine. We are far from fine. Yet when someone asks how we are, do they really want to hear what is not fine about us? They only want to hear we are fine--even if it is untrue and a false perception we give out. People can deal with "fine", they can't deal with miserable, heartbroken, and discouraged.
It's
hard to be honest--especially when people ask, and we
know full well they don't really want to know the answer. People just
don't have the time for answers to questions like that. So we lie; and
make no mistake, it is a lie. Doesn't mean we are any worse or better
than another--just know that truth is not what folks want to hear. And
so we pretend. We pretend to be something or someone we are not.
“The heart of the world is breaking under this load of pride and pretense. There is no release from our burden apart from the meekness of Christ.”
~A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
Yes, the heart of the world is breaking under this load, dear brother Tozer. It's breaking as it pretends and it's breaking as others ignore the power that truth has in lifting the weight of the load. Perhaps that is why Paul tells us, "Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2. Why would we want to carry another's burdens when ours are so heavy? Perhaps it is because there is strength in numbers. And perhaps as we do, we give comfort to one another.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
