Who really understands you? Do you have someone who gets you? When was the last time you connected, truly connected with someone close to you? or for that matter, anyone? Have you ever had an encounter with someone who totally understood why you feel the way you do? Why you are disappointed over what some may find trivial? A close encounter is one in which a person not only understands how you feel, but why. They see beyond the actual circumstance for your pain, the origin for your hurting, and they care...simply care that you hurt.
Right about now, most men might say, "Huh? What are you talking about, lady?" Most men I've encountered seem to keep disappointment all bottled up inside, have heart attacks and ulcers, or explode with anger and walk away when obstacles and aggravations come their way. They rarely open up and let the world see that vulnerable side of themselves. To be fair, many women are just as guarded, perhaps for different reasons. For men, I think it is one of pride and ego. They have this thing about letting anyone be privy to weakness, or inability to solve a problem...after all, they are men.
Women, on the other hand, unless they dared place themselves in a world of competition with men, are more likely to admit a personal fault, a fear, an irritation, a complaint, a disappointment. We're more likely to guard ourselves from sharing the depths of our hearts because we've been burned, or betrayed, or encountered disloyal people with whom we share our innermost thoughts. Some of us don't like to admit our spiritual failings, where we are not showing perfect trust and faith in God. We also know we have a reputation for murmurring, complaining, whining and nagging. So a lot of times we stuff our feelings, too.
However, I think we, being women, as a whole, still find that release valve within our souls incapable of holding forever the hurt we experience. Like I mentioned in my last post, sometimes it only takes one thing--the expensive brisket no one shows up to eat, the wrong kind of hinges to be placed on a door, the tiny details of one's life no one seems to notice or care about--to become the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back of emotions. And then, well, the dam breaks and we cry. Those closest to us are sometimes shocked. It's so out of character for us. Others think it typical--nothing seems to make us happy after all (even though many things make us happy), but you won't change their minds, they think they know you.
When that camel is broken...when the bubbles burst, and daydreams are crushed by evening darkness, we find ourselves seeking solace in the oddest places. While some turn to yardwork, to scrubbing walls, to purging closets, to riding bikes, to running like Forrest Gump, others turn to painting landscapes, to making jewelry, to playing trumpets. Some lie in bed, dig into a half-gallon of Rocky Road ice cream, but, me? I tend to throw a pity party. The problem with that is, many of the closest people in my life aren't all that excited about joining me.
Fortunately, I have some friends who "get" me. God brings these friends into my life in the strangest ways. selahV (to be continued HERE/link )
