As I read and interact with people on this site I got to wishing we were closer and could meet. Then I laughed. Wouldn't it be funny to really see how we all are?  In cyberspace you can be anything; any age, any sex, any occupation. We can create whatever persona we want and change it at will.

We can pour out our feelings here to "faceless" people or caring icons. But, if that person was sitting across from us at a Denny's, would we feel that same freedom? Most peoples biggest fear is that "if they really knew me, they wouldn't like me."  Here, if we choose, we can be perfectly honest because it doesn't really matter if they like us or not! If someone chooses to comment, great! If not, well we don't miss it right?

While I tend to be honest and straightforward by nature, (my mom says blunt) I did find out early on there were lots of things you couldn't talk to people about because they looked at you like you just crawled out from under a rock. Even if their response didn't convey disgust, their looks and body language did. So I learned the plastic smile. The "everythings fine" response. The fact that nobody wanted to know how I really felt or what I really thought because it made them uncomfortable. Here, if they are uncomfortable, they can leave!

I saw a comment that said there couldn't be a God because He wouldn't allow bad things to happen. I've chosen to believe that God allows pain in our lives to teach us. Because of the pain I have felt, I have compassion on others in pain. I can say "I understand how you feel, because I've been there." They can look at the peace and strength that I have found through Jesus Christ and know that they can tap into that as well.  I can talk to someone who has destroyed their life with whatever their addiction of the day is and let them know that Jesus can break ALL chains, ALL addictions, ALL unhealthy thought patterns. Now that's not to say that we don't get in the way of His work with our stubborn wills and desires.....