Privacy from the Need to Know

As Christians who are working in our gifts, we need to be careful about people who don’t have our best interests at heart. If your spiritual radar (the best way I might describe it to someone) gives off alarm bells, then you should pay attention.

This is a case of enforceable boundaries—because most of us who are attuned to when someone is being too nosy are within our rights to stay out of another’s magnifying glass.

This is one reason I keep my personal life private in everything I write here with rare exceptions.

We do not need to share every little detail of our lives with others, even those whom we might call friends.

It is not someone else’s business what you’re doing or how you’re doing it. Who you’re dating, where you like to spend your time—save those things for loyal friends who aren’t looking for something to get out of it with nothing in return.

I had an experience today where someone tried to stray me off the path of what gifts God has given to me, and I felt it was ill-intentioned. If they realized it is beside the point.

My path is my path, and I might have other skills, but those skills won’t take me as far as God’s path for my life will.

Don’t let anyone else take you off your path—and always pray to the Father that you’re doing His will.

Look.

I’ve had instances in my life (one a decade ago comes to mind) where my path was blocked in some way, so I didn’t head in a certain direction. If that door is closed for now, great. It will open when it opens. If it’s closed for good, then I’ll focus on what my doors are in THIS season.

But I will not allow someone else to dictate what that path is for me. I don’t care if it’s a friend—you follow your gifts.

If it’s your family (they might only want the best) then press on anyway.

Your mom might want you to become a doctor instead of a comic writer. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But if someone says you should follow this path over here, when you know you should follow another one, follow the path that uses your gift.

I think it is far more inspiring to follow God’s intentions than it is to limit yourself, even if you are great at other things.

Keep the nosy people out and stay away from fake flattery. I believe in loving your neighbor—but I don’t believe in limiting myself.

Sometimes it is best to keep your mouth shut and work in silence. Protecting your peace is not selfish. It is something that will help your heart grow into something with a far greater capacity for others.

While not believing I have the best advice in the world, I want to say to other believers—or anyone—to keep things private and avoid people who only want the tea at any cost.

Gossip is not necessarily what I mean here.

Stephen King said it best, I think.

“I don’t know where I get them (his ideas and process), and if I did, man, would I tell you?”

There’s no need to share every little thing with people.

I’m keeping my politics essentially to myself now as well. I’m here to write words, not discourse about world woes. There might be some outlier event that changes that, but I was put here to write.

Not do someone else’s idea of what I should do.

Blessings and shalom.