Puppet or Puppet Master?
Whodo you aim to please the most? Who essentially has control of your mouth,your fingertips and your mind or emotions? Who truly pulls your strings? Doyou think you're in control? While we may control the muscles thatmove our mouths and fingertips, there is an influence in our lives thatcontrols mostly what we say, do and write. Still don't believe me?
Nottoo far in the distant past, I sat in a room full of writers and listened as aparticular writer read a portion of their work. I saw the words that hadbeen read caused a plethora of responses, some positive and some negative; somewith admiration while others with disgust. But what was even more clearlyobserved, was the presence of censorship and political correctness taking holdof mouths and clamping down on fingertips (the inability to write). The only truth that escaped was a brief flash of facial expressions thatrevealed what their mouths or fingers refused to acknowledge. This was supposedto be a time when writers presented their work before their peers to receive anhonest critique. Yet, I've rarely ever seen that happen. I'vemostly witnessed false accolades, puffing of pride and disdain with a smilespread with the same tenacity as politicians gearing for a campaign. While we seek the approval and praise from our fellow artists, there are onlyfew who can handle receiving true and honest critique, and even fewer to cangive the same. Many claim to have thick skins, but only few really do.
Alsonot too far in the distant past, I have sat in room full of Christians andlistened to one particular person speak about a particular scripture and theirinterpretation of the meaning. Again Icould see the different responses by the other Believer's, some positive andsome negative; some with admiration while others with disgust. Just as clearly as with the writers above,was the presence of censorship and religious political correctness taking holdof mouths. Yet, their faces revealed thetrue opinions that refused to escape their lips. The church is also a place many of us goes toseek the approval and praise of our fellow Believers, yet there are only a fewwho can handle receiving an honest truth, and even fewer who can give the same. Offenses are easily made and given in thisatmosphere where it should not.
I'veoften struggled with trying to reason out for myself why anyone would easilyhand over their freedom of opinion or ability to question the status quo tosomeone or something else. While theremay be many reasons for doing so, there really isn't any excuse. You can lay blame at the feet of politeness, adesire to not offend, being a peacekeeper, not wanting to upset the apple cart,etc. But, I still believe that the truthis always the best policy, even if it hurts. I refuse to believe a lie helps anyonefor any reason. Perhapsbecause for so many years I forced to lie to hide the abuse that went on behindclosed doors, lying has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Perhaps because the only real help I've everreceived in my life was from people who were brave enough, and cared enough aboutme, to tell me the truth, especially when it hurt.
Ioften come across to many people as being brash and brazenly bold, without muchrestraint or sympathy. People are mostoften offended because I speak my mind, whether in agreement ordisagreement. I've been told I comeacross as cold, unfeeling and judgmental. It's not that I don't show emotion, I just don't allow my emotions torule my decisions. Most often, as amatter of fact, I make my decisions contrary to my emotions, because I know myemotions are just that - emotional responses. Emotions lie. Emotionsexaggerate. Emotions change. Emotions confuse the truth of matters. But, don't mistake me – I have emotions. Myfeelings get hurt, my pride gets trampled and my heart breaks just likeeveryone else. I'm compassionate; I justshow my compassion differently than most around me. I don't hate people, but I do hate a lot of stupid(mostly selfish) decisions and messes that are made, especially when they madeout by emotions.
Myultimate priority is to be true to myself and the plans I've made. I have a great faith in my God, and throughHis love for me, I've learned to love myself. That was the hardest lesson I've ever had to learn. In that love, I've also learned to respectmyself, trust myself and be true to myself and my dreams, and have cut the stringsof society that try to control and censor me. So, when I open my mouth to speak, it is to please the person I'vebecome, not to please those around me. I'mnot afraid of someone else's opinion, critique, acceptance, rejection,understanding or support; only my own. At the end of all things, we all standalone. Therefore, I'm free to speak –knowing it's the Truth that sets me free.
Tillnext time,
~T.L.Gray
Nottoo far in the distant past, I sat in a room full of writers and listened as aparticular writer read a portion of their work. I saw the words that hadbeen read caused a plethora of responses, some positive and some negative; somewith admiration while others with disgust. But what was even more clearlyobserved, was the presence of censorship and political correctness taking holdof mouths and clamping down on fingertips (the inability to write). The only truth that escaped was a brief flash of facial expressions thatrevealed what their mouths or fingers refused to acknowledge. This was supposedto be a time when writers presented their work before their peers to receive anhonest critique. Yet, I've rarely ever seen that happen. I'vemostly witnessed false accolades, puffing of pride and disdain with a smilespread with the same tenacity as politicians gearing for a campaign. While we seek the approval and praise from our fellow artists, there are onlyfew who can handle receiving true and honest critique, and even fewer to cangive the same. Many claim to have thick skins, but only few really do.
Alsonot too far in the distant past, I have sat in room full of Christians andlistened to one particular person speak about a particular scripture and theirinterpretation of the meaning. Again Icould see the different responses by the other Believer's, some positive andsome negative; some with admiration while others with disgust. Just as clearly as with the writers above,was the presence of censorship and religious political correctness taking holdof mouths. Yet, their faces revealed thetrue opinions that refused to escape their lips. The church is also a place many of us goes toseek the approval and praise of our fellow Believers, yet there are only a fewwho can handle receiving an honest truth, and even fewer who can give the same. Offenses are easily made and given in thisatmosphere where it should not.
I'veoften struggled with trying to reason out for myself why anyone would easilyhand over their freedom of opinion or ability to question the status quo tosomeone or something else. While theremay be many reasons for doing so, there really isn't any excuse. You can lay blame at the feet of politeness, adesire to not offend, being a peacekeeper, not wanting to upset the apple cart,etc. But, I still believe that the truthis always the best policy, even if it hurts. I refuse to believe a lie helps anyonefor any reason. Perhapsbecause for so many years I forced to lie to hide the abuse that went on behindclosed doors, lying has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Perhaps because the only real help I've everreceived in my life was from people who were brave enough, and cared enough aboutme, to tell me the truth, especially when it hurt.
Ioften come across to many people as being brash and brazenly bold, without muchrestraint or sympathy. People are mostoften offended because I speak my mind, whether in agreement ordisagreement. I've been told I comeacross as cold, unfeeling and judgmental. It's not that I don't show emotion, I just don't allow my emotions torule my decisions. Most often, as amatter of fact, I make my decisions contrary to my emotions, because I know myemotions are just that - emotional responses. Emotions lie. Emotionsexaggerate. Emotions change. Emotions confuse the truth of matters. But, don't mistake me – I have emotions. Myfeelings get hurt, my pride gets trampled and my heart breaks just likeeveryone else. I'm compassionate; I justshow my compassion differently than most around me. I don't hate people, but I do hate a lot of stupid(mostly selfish) decisions and messes that are made, especially when they madeout by emotions.
Myultimate priority is to be true to myself and the plans I've made. I have a great faith in my God, and throughHis love for me, I've learned to love myself. That was the hardest lesson I've ever had to learn. In that love, I've also learned to respectmyself, trust myself and be true to myself and my dreams, and have cut the stringsof society that try to control and censor me. So, when I open my mouth to speak, it is to please the person I'vebecome, not to please those around me. I'mnot afraid of someone else's opinion, critique, acceptance, rejection,understanding or support; only my own. At the end of all things, we all standalone. Therefore, I'm free to speak –knowing it's the Truth that sets me free.
Tillnext time,
~T.L.Gray
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