Photography, is an amazing art form. It amazes me how someone can take something that is seemingly ordinary, and capture it in such a way that makes it astounding and magnificient. I have tried to take nice pictures, and regardless of the equipment, they just turn out ok… I’m certain it has something to do with the operator. Since many photos are selfies, I suppose it’s fair to assume it has something to do with the subject too.
Perhaps, I just lack the commitment to the art to go through the hassle of staging something to photograph. Maybe this is also why I am torn between wanting to sell my house, but not wanting to go through the hassle of staging, and keeping it clean during the process. There is an entire industry that helps to stage your home for selling. Those with enough funds even have public relations advisers to stage their lives for selling an ideal to the masses.
If you look at any of my social media profiles, you just might think that I have it all together… Never in a bad mood, always dressed to kill, kids are getting along, my wife and I never fight, our house is clean and the lawn and flower beds are perfectly manicured.
It’s hard work ensuring that image is kept up, but to what end? Man was never created to be alone, so why do we create these images that ultimately isolate us from others.
Here are a couple of reasons why I believe this isolates us.
We’re afraid to let people in:
Deep down we all know the person we portray is not really all that great. Despite some of the spectacular things we post, we’re all just human. I understand completely the fear of being so real and vulnerable with others.
I’ve had some tough struggles, but until I was willing to let go of my image and confide in others, I was trapped in a ‘perfect life’ all alone.
The funny thing is, that when you become real with people, the fear of not being good enough quickly goes away. For me, I have discovered that when I was willing to open up to others I found there were hidden abilities and giftings within me that could only be exposed through vulnerability.
The potential to help others far outweighs the fear of not being good enough, so I encourage you to give it a try.
People feel unable to be real with you:
There have been times in my life where I was in agony of being so alone in my struggles. Many of the people in my life were perfect, and would completely reject me had I confided in them. Or at least I had thought.
I remember sitting in church and watching the preacher talk the talk, knowing full well that I could never live up to the perfect live he was espousing that he was living. I remember the Sunday it was announced the pastor had fallen into sin, and here I sat with my already imperfect life, and not even he could live a perfect life. What hope did I have.
I’m not saying we all need to get up on a pedestal and confess every issue we’ve dealt with, but can’t we stop pretending? Some days are seriously just crappy, and sometimes we just realize our humanity is still present.
We don’t always have it all together, and that’s ok, so why don’t we try a little vulnerability to encourage others that it’s ok to be broken once in awhile. It’s only in our brokenness where Christ can make things new.
I’m reminded of this passage from Ecclesiastes. We all need someone to help us through this life, and we all need to be that person to help someone else…
I have noticed something else in life that is useless. Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too—and a miserable way to live. Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him. If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but how can you keep warm by yourself Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break. (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 GNT)
For some of us(myself included), it can be difficult to expose the real me, but in an effort to help someone else in their journey, I’ll do it. Will you?
There’s been a big jump in readership on my blog in the last couple of weeks. Not viral by any means, but I appreciate everyone that’s taken the time to read, and to send me notes of encouragement.
Thank you all.
Till next time
Jason.
Jason Gallant 