Truth Tellers

"Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” - Mark 8:31-33

Who can tell you the truths you do not want to hear? The truths which you need to acknowledge but would rather not.

I was listening to a podcast recently and the psychologist speaking said he has come to be grateful for the “tor-mentors” in his life. He meant those people who actually mentored him into understanding himself better—but clearly the tormenting part was not the easy road.

When we think of people in our lives who have had the biggest impact on us, it is tempting to remember only those who encourage us to be more than we think we can be. The cheerleader who paints a picture of a life that is more than we can currently conceive. They open our imaginations and give us a vision that serves as a point on the horizon which guides us forward. These people are necessary, and I hope each of us has at least one we can point to in our lives.

Just as important though are the truth-tellers who help us let go of those dreams that might get in the way of answering our truer calling. The teacher who advises us of our deficiencies – not to be discouraging or unkind, but to help us see beyond that which clouds our vision.

Parker Palmer, a Quaker writer, talked about meeting with a woman to discern an important turning point in his life. He was looking for what the Quakers call “way-opening.” It is a method of attending to your life to notice what your next steps might be. He asked this woman of great wisdom how she had recognized way-opening in her own life. She responded, “I do not know that I ever have seen way-open. But I sure have had the experience of way-closing. In the end, it has served the same purpose.”

Sometimes to see the way forward, another way needs to close.

I imagine the disciples had a lot of way-closing as they walked the way of Jesus.

I imagine as followers of Jesus, we do as well.

Who can tell you the truth you do not want to hear?

Peace, Beth +