...secrets

Even typing the word ‘Secrets’ makes me feel naughty. The meaning behind the word is enough to evoke strong emotions in me. Is this just a moral code? Something cultural that I have been taught to understand or is there some deeper spiritual resonance that this word stirs in each of us?

My first memory of understanding secrets comes from primary school. Secrets become something of a currency that children can trade with. Apart from friendship, I guess there is little other influence that you possess aged 5. Secrets become power in the playground. Secrets, true or false can be traded to acquire friendship, information and possessions. Understanding the value of the secret is all important to ensure the equity gained in return is fair.

So, it’s a learning curve – I seem to remember being open and honest, only to discover that the secrets I gained were wholly untrue. The next time I was more aware, assured to bargain more appropriately.

Maybe at primary school we can assign gaining secrets as seeking knowledge.  So what is it about knowledge that is hidden that is more interesting than that available in the public domain? It has to come down to power. Is a secret that is of no interest to anyone else, not a secret? Is it simply unknown information?

Each of us hold information about us, others or situations that no-one else knows. But we are all able to sift this into a) unknown/with no power vs. b) unknown/with power – The Secret.

As we mature we learn which secrets to share with whom and at what price.

Sometimes secrets are carried from cradle to grave to hide disappointment, pain, horror – from ourselves and others around us.

Ever since the creation of life, (as quoted in Genesis) man has been intrigued with secrets.

In fact this could be a contentious question but was it God that introduced man to secrets with the tree of life? The reality was it was a secret that fundamentally changed God’s life plan for humanity. Equally in life there are some secrets that should just not be shared.

As well as power, secrets can come with a sense of burden. A heaviness of heart that by retaining the information changes the spirit of the person and the life they live.

So to unburden, share that secret..is that a good thing? Would it be better to keep the secret? And doesn’t this go against the natural, moral sense of right that most of us have?

God certainly hasn’t shared all details of creation with man – is that keeping secrets? Or has and does God reveal all but we don’t have the capacity to discern, see or hear the secrets divulged?

I don’t think there is an easy answer to any of this but I do think that secrets are not necessarily bad or naughty but just a way of filtering information.

Next time you consider keeping or sharing a secret maybe reflect on why you are doing that – and for what purpose…?