The secret? There should be no secrets
Secrets — Christmas is bedecked in them. Secrets like, “Don't look in the closet.” “I'll get the mail.” “Hide those receipts.” “Don't ask questions.” “Keep out of the garage.” “Promise not to tell.” 'Tis the season of delightful, delicious secrets.
I had a short, three-floors-down elevator conversation during our recent trip to Florida that left a lasting impression on secrets. Terry and I, as grandparents of the groom, were all dressed up on our way to the wedding venue across a quiet side street from the hotel. Normally we would not ride the elevator looking quite so lofty.
Somehow, who knows how, the subject of attire popped up with the two men riding with us. I mentioned Terry's 75-cent lavender tie which I'd found — still in its packaging — at a Priest River thrift store. It had, unplanned, exactly matched with the groom's, and I was quite proud of it. One man remarked, “Don't tell all your secrets.”
I answered, “After fifty-two years there are no secrets.”
About then the doors opened, and as he stepped out the other man said, “Maybe the secret is to have no secrets.” Ride that back up the elevator: “Maybe the secret is to have no secrets.”
In mine and Terry's life we've had our share of personal and relational secrets. Thankfully, they got found out. A temporary secret — as a Christmas gift meant for someone's joy is one thing. But keeping intentional, disturbing secrets from others is a winding, deceptive road. All those “you can't know about this” thoughts and actions make a prison, whose bars are the secrets.
In the beginning, according to the book of Genesis, there were no secrets. And then they came — and with them a reason to hide. It didn't work then, and doesn't work now. Harboring harmful secrets creates all kinds of stressful emotions. It takes a huge amount of energy to maintain a cover up.
Maybe revealing a secret will lead to major hurt and anger — and I can't be sure what will be the outcome. But that acts like a kind of blackmail that keeps me imprisoned. I have to reach for the freedom of living a secret-free life. To trust an honest God.
Jesus was born into this world to end harmful secrets. There is a hope in the angels' chorus, “Peace on earth! Good will among men.” A hope that says, “Be done with secrets. Let the hidden come to light and be forgiven. Be free and at peace.”
In this month of wonderful, airy secrets maybe the best gift is to lay down the burdensome secrets. And with that, to think about being the kind of person who invites honesty. An old song says, “It is no secret what God can do. What He's done for others, He'll do for you.”
He forgives. He sets free. He gives peace.