Guyzone: Dirty Little Secrets
8th January 2010 by Jarrod Newton
Guyzone is our new just-for-guys section on MORE.
All-American Rejects have a song called 'Dirty Little Secret'. Hit play and give yourself some background music as you read the rest of this post. The video clip is pretty sweet too... I was really surprised by what was written on some of the cards!
What is it with us guys and keeping secrets these days?
Tiger Woods and Mike Guglielmucci are two examples of really successful, influential guys who have been massively burned by their secret lives. Imagine if those guys early on had admitted they had a problem, and found someone to talk to for advice and support? They might have avoided all of the devastation.
Instead, they chose the path of keeping secrets, and the results speak for themselves. It didn't turn out to be such a smart move, hey?
Get honest, or get bitten
Men, the reality is that your secrets WILL come back to bite you. The Bible even says so -- check this out!
Honesty guides good people;
dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
Proverbs 11:3
Is there something going on in your life that you know isn't right? Something you're concerned about? Guys -- and I say this with love -- don't be stupid! Don't try to be a superhero and handle all of life's tough stuff on your own.
Be brave, admit when you're struggling, and ask someone for help. Ask your youth pastor, your corps officer, an older brother, or someone else who you admire and trust to meet up with you for a Coke sometime. Just be real blunt and let them know you could do with some advice. It might seem like a real tough thing to do today, but in a couple of years, you'll look back and be glad you did it.
"A lie may take care of the present, but it has no future." - Anonymous
It's time for us guys to tackle the problem of secret lives like real men: head on.
Jarrod Newton
save. grow. serve.
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Comments
OK so I am a girl but I just want to say well done Jarrod for this great article!!!!!! Awesome stuff!!! Keep up the great work!!!
Brilliant Jarod......Really helpful.
Bless ya mate.
Couldn't agree more!
God's more interested in our heart/private life than he is in our outward success. Jesus challenged the Pharisee's about their lack of heart health. It's easy for us to condemn someone for a big moral slip-up. The reality is that if they had asked for help, or if we had played our part in creating an environment where secrets can be shared, and repented of, a Tiger Woods like episode may have been avoided.
The growth of our private world is more important than any of our outward successes. It's our private world that keeps us from becoming victims of our success. A great book for those involved in ministry and those serious about their inner world is 'Ordering Your Private World' by Gordon McDonald. It reflects biblical rhythms of life that keep us focused on our need for continual renewal of our hearts and minds. It's one I'll be referring back to in 2010!
Hey Jarrod that song clip made me cry, some of those cards are bizarre ('i like the smell of my own poop'???? ha!) but some of them are so damn upsetting and emphasise the amount of unseen pain there is in life that we all too easily gloss over!!! I enjoyed that song immensely though, well done All American Rejects!!!!
And thanks for sharing that clip, it was GREAT, love the song!!!
PS: I think i only followed the link coz i wanted to know what the guys always talk about behind their closed doors 'guy talk' seminars....teehee....
good stuff!
the cards in the clip are from the PostSecret project website..