Have you ever “Googled” your name, telephone number or other personal information?  If not, you may be surprised at what you find because we live in the most TRANSPARENT GENERATION since the beginning of time.

But does it really matter?  I think so …. and my belief is reduced to this: that the TRUTH matters …. now more than ever before.  With cameras on cell phones and emerging on almost “every street corner” …. with GPS tracking systems following us everywhere we go, with the ability to verify information online, you and I can no longer “fly under the radar”.  What you and I do is or could become very public, observable and verifiable despite the provocative privacy laws.  And this information is available …. almost instantaneously.

However, this development shouldn’t be discouraging. Jesus admonishes us to live transparent lives.  His words, “the truth will set you free” couldn’t be more relevant.  Transparency and vulnerability should be at the core of who we are.  But frequently, for many of us, they’re not.  The world will tell us to “be strong”, to “have a stiff upper lip”, and so on, because being vulnerable and transparent shows weakness.  And too often we’re putting on a mask and pretending for that very reason.  However, scripture challenges that notion with this claim from Paul the Apostle: “when I am weak, then I am strong”.  From God’s perspective, when we’re vulnerable and transparent, we’re actually demonstrating true inner strength and confidence in Him.

Another related issue is that often our public persona doesn’t match the real you or me.  God’s goal for us would be to live a life of CONVERGENCE where our private behavior matches our public personality.  Put another way, our reputation, which is how people know us PUBLICLY, should be a mirror image and match that of our integrity, that which is what we do PRIVATELY.

So what does this topic have to do with Irene?  Simply this: she is one of the most transparent people I have ever known.  No pretense; no positioning; no personal agenda other than concern for others; what you see is what you get; a servant’s heart.  She has modeled transparency for years.  It’s just who she has become.  As it relates to Amyloid, we had to deal with truth and reality from its inception.  We’ve been “real” with our emotions and the many challenges of what we’re facing.  Truth and honesty have been at the core of how we’ve communicated with each other about the significant matters before us.  Transparency is a character quality worth pursuing because it actually provides many benefits.

Sue Martinez picked Irene up from dialysis this morning and they ate breakfast at the Red Apple Restaurant before coming home.  Irene rested this afternoon; the nausea maintained a low rumble because of the powerful medication combination, allowing her to eat more frequently.  She’s not gaining weight yet but she’s certainly making the effort!!

The next time you GOOGLE someone’s name remember that God knows your name and doesn’t have to rely upon the internet to know what you’re up to.  He CREATED transparency!  He’s current, 24/7 …. including your thought life.  It’s either incredibly liberating to recognize this truth or it is terribly convicting!!

For me, I am grateful that God isn’t surprised at my thought life or behavior. His love is consistent and he’s always ready to deal with me honestly and truthfully.  As I confess my sins he forgives me and allows me to grow closer to Him.

I am also incredibly grateful for Irene whose transparency inspires me everyday.

Caminando con Fé
Dave