Transparent Tuesday

In light of being transparent, we're going to learn a lesson from my flower beds today.  Here's a quick shot at what my neighbors see as they drive past our house. It looks pretty good, right?

I could show you close ups and tell you how wonderful the flowers are and brag about what a green thumb I have...

Or, I could be transparent and show you what things look like in reality...

Just a tab bit of weeds, dying flowers and overgrown grass creeping into those beautiful river rocks.

As I look at my flower beds this time of year, I often think about how they relate to life. They're beautiful if you're in a moving car and you just glance out the window. But, if you park your car and walk up to my door, the truth is ever so staring you in the face.

Isn't this true of us? We try so hard to make it look like things are good on the outside but in reality our insides are full of weeds. Why are we so quick to think other people have it all together and we're the only one who struggles with nastiness?

I had a friend once share with me that she always assumed I had tons of friends so she never really tried to get to know me. It wasn't until I began approaching her that a friendship developed. It's sad to think that a wrong assumption almost kept us from becoming friends.

Let's challenge each other to live a life of transparency. If we're real with one another then there's no need for wrong assumptions. Let's strive to be accepting of each other's "weeds" and not be judgmental, friends.