So this was asked in a private message sent to me: How can you be so comfortable just putting it all out there?

Well, I thank the friend who messaged me this question. I was going to respond to you individually, but this is actually the third rendition I have received of the same question.

In light of depression and suicide being in the spotlight again, it is a very worthy question, and I do not take any offense to it. The first thing I want to say is, I don’t put it all out there, but I am happy to share with any of you if you would like to have coffee with me.

Secondly, we all have our struggles and challenges: me, you, your neighbor, your counselor, your preacher-everyone! Silencing our struggles only imprisons us in shame and isolation, opening the door for dangerous assailants like fear, anxiety and depression.

Struggle, pain, difficult times are a common thread that connect us all, and hiding our pain was never how Jesus intended us to live. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says…He comforts us in all our affliction so we may comfort others in their time of need. We are to take that which challenges us, and use it to encourage and comfort our brothers and sisters.

I am so thankful for the people in my life who do this for me. They show me Jesus everyday through their words, actions, kindness and love. I could not manage this life without them. Maybe I’m wrong, but I cannot think that you are that different from me. We are all really more alike than different.

Our vulnerability is the greatest gift we have to offer each other. Embracing transparency frees us from a life of isolation, and the exhaustion of trying to appear like we have it all together. Transparency is contagious and liberating because it gives other’s permission to be “normal.”

We need to walk this beautifully, broken life with each other well. I cannot do that if am not willing to give up my need to manage what people think of me, and to have an appearance of an “all together” life. We are all only accountable to One. He accepts us just as we are-broken. This frees me to “just put it all out there,” because nothing you or anyone else thinks about me affects my standing with the only One who matters. He has already sealed my destiny, and I am completely secure under the shelter of his righteousness.

So I guess to answer my friend’s question more briefly; I can risk transparency, because I have nothing to loose, and so much freedom, connection and friendship to gain. Life is so much lighter when we allow our challenges to connect rather than control us.