I went to an amusement park the other day. I’m not really sure if the amusement is from the rides or from the crazy people that show up. It’s a place where social norms are largely thrown out the window and people think it is appropriate to walk around around half-clothed (or less). Having a child is a beautiful thing, but I do not need to see your stretch marks from the ordeal or your muffin top hanging over your cotton shorts while you walk around in a bikini top.
The worst one, though, was the guy that had the handgun tattooed on the side of his head. No, I’m not kidding. To make matters worse, he had huge spacers in his ears. It’s sad, really. He is not going to be respected by very many people, and he has ruined chances of receiving any sort of high-paying employment. No matter how much society pretends to be accepting and to celebrate diversity, it’s a load of crap.
The guy just doesn’t get it. Somewhere along the way, someone (or multiple people, even) told him that it was a good idea to do all of this to his appearance. That he looked good, that it was cool. So why would he think otherwise? It’s kind of the same thing that happens to the bad auditionees on American Idol. The camera zooms in on a proud, crying mother and father who beam through their tears and tell America how their offspring has such a beautiful voice and sings so well. Then said offspring begins to sing for the judges and sounds like a cross between a cow and a chainsaw. It all began when they first started trying to sing, and the parents were supportive and placating so as not to hurt little Johnny’s feelings. Eventually, their dishonesty became disillusionment, and led to Johnny being humiliated on national television for his 15 seconds of fame.
We don’t like to be honest with people we love sometimes because it seems like a lie is just…nicer. I think this is why it’s all too easy to think that God isn’t loving- He’s brutally honest with us. He tones it down enough so that we’re not completely crushed when He opens our eyes to see our true state, but often it’s more than we can really handle and it knocks us off of our game for a while. The good part is that we’re not blind anymore. Wouldn’t you rather find out that you had toilet paper stuck to your shoe BEFORE everyone else saw it?
I don’t have thick skin. I get hurt and embarrassed and ashamed very easily. I think that helps me to be honest with other people, because I can try to deliver it in a manner that’s not going to hurt them. Honesty is never fun to receive at first, no matter the subject or the gentleness of the delivery. However, please stop me from ever tattooing a gun on my head by telling me that it would look really, really terrible. Also, don’t let me purchase gladiator sandals (although I don’t think I’ll need reminding on either point).
