Have you noticed that many newer houses are transparent?
I don’t mean invisible, I mean you can see right through them because of the windows.
One new house in my neighborhood has a new painted brick privacy fence around their backyard. (Yeah, they painted the bricks right away. Why do people do that?)
I assume the owners don’t want others gawking at them as they swim in their pool, lounge on their deck, or soak in their hot tub. Their painted brick privacy fence ensures that their next door and backyard neighbors won’t see them while they are in their backyard, that is, unless they walk in front of their home. Through the front windows, which cover the entire front of the house, the entire back yard, including the pool, deck, and hot tub can be seen from the front sidewalk, not to mention the entire living room, kitchen, and dining area.
Many houses now also allow passersby to view their staircase 24/7. (I guess this means no more late night refrigerator raids in your underwear).
At least you can’t see into the closets or the bathrooms… Or can you?
Houses are now often built with “bonus” windows, allowing outsiders a view of their ceilings of certain closets and bathrooms. I don’t know about you, but if I’m changing clothes or making use of the facilities, I’m not interested in people being able to view any part of my closets or bathrooms (you know, in case there are hidden cameras or strategically placed mirrors).
Finally, I think people have started building themselves like these houses – There’s a high backyard privacy fence and a state of the art security system which you’re definitely going to need because everyone (neighbors, postal employees, friends, weirdos, and bad guys) can see everything of value through their front Instagrammable windows.
Someone once said that “Transparency is sharing my imperfections with others.” Not many of us accomplish this well. We build brick walls around our secrets and insecurities, not realizing that the front doors of our lives which we designed to show off our we’ve-got-it-all-together-ness are betraying us.
King David, after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, plotted the death of her husband, built his own brick wall to cover his sin. But after being confronted by Nathan the prophet, he finally confessed his sin to the Lord in full transparency.
He prayed: “For I was born a sinner-yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But You desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.” (Psalm 51:5-6)
Truth produces many benefits, emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual.
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” (John 8:32)
Truth leads to transparency. Having nothing to hide will help us withstand whatever trials and tests that may come our way.
*Image by Wilhelm Gunkel
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