Casper, Saran wrap and me?

Casper, the friendly ghost . . . that was my first thought when I kept hearing all this about “transparency”. Like, am I a ghost? Scary thought. Or clear plastic wrap, see through. I heard one comment after another, “I just love your transparency” and again “gosh you’re so transparent” and then I started to worry about this. Is it like no one can see me? I feel like that often, like no one sees me or cares about me. Then I thought I must be making a fool of myself, again! I seem to have that foot and mouth disease. Often I open my mouth and then insert foot. I will just be talking and suddenly I am aware of a strange quiet, an intense look. It makes me feel funny, like I am quite the oddball. When once again I was cruising toward a poor decision, a close friend really leveled me. She said that the course I was taking was perfectly understandable but it didn’t seem like me. “I have always been able to see God through your trials and tough decisions”, she commented. “I don’t know if I could choose the tough things, take that narrow path, but because of you I see how to live better. You have shown me God just through your life”. Oh my, was I humbled at that. I guess that’s what it means to be transparent. Oh, it still hurts. It still feels awkward and unpleasant. Right up until I get past the funny looks and embarrassment and see that others are hurting too and look to me to see if my Jesus is enough to help me through triumphantly – and He sure is!







Considering all my options, it seemed like getting dentures was the best choice for me although I felt it was another step into old age, right after my gray hair, trifocals and age spots. Soon would be a cane and then I will be carted off to the nursing home . . . Oh well, the decision had to be made. I thought I could just stay out of sight until I was healed and perhaps no one would notice. Of course, the first thing on my agenda in the public eye execrated me from my hibernation and landed me in front of a large group of women as the chairperson doing all the talking. In my usual enthusiasm, I got carried away making a point and, yes you can see it coming, my new teeth went flying. My mind was wildly searching for a Bible story that I could relate to. Come on now you would think there was a story of the ground opening up and letting someone off the hook? After recovering my teeth and what little was left of my decorum, I got through the meeting. I really wanted to head for the door and my car and home to hide right after the closing prayer but I was obligated to greet and do follow-up. It was then I finally remembered how God works all things together for HIS good as I encountered not one but several women who were about to go through the same thing and I was able to minister to them.






Back to the clear plastic wrap or bottles & clear containers, I like to use them the most because I can see what I put in them. I can also see when things turn green and need to be tossed out! Can it be my prayer that I can be so see-through that God will use me more and that others can see God through me – AMEN!