Self-Editing

From CNN, in an article about Holocaust memories … “In the background a clock doesn't tick, it pounds. More than 65 years after World War II, the untold stories of Holocaust survivors -- the dwindling numbers that remain -- will soon be buried forever. If survivors choose to share their stories, with clarity of mind and because it will help them, then wonderful. But they shouldn't feel pressure to open up. If they prefer to take their stories with them to the grave, so be it.

How they've managed to live is by compartmentalizing … we all self-edit our life narratives.”

Think about the memories that Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans have. Harsh and vivid, life changing, disturbing and real, held close and quiet. Impossible to imagine.

I can understand the concept of self-editing in those lives. But I can see that any of us may feel that need, for even less traumatic experiences. We may be ashamed or hurt beyond repair. We may want to hide an unsavory aspect of our past. We may fear the sharing of failure. We may not want to admit truth to ourselves, to others. It may be that we need to self-edit, as a protection mechanism. I can’t say that’s wrong or right.

There is one sure way to free ourselves from that need, through the Sacrament of Confession. There, there are no secrets too harsh to admit. God knows all of our narratives, even if we hide them from the world … that is part of the beauty of having Him as a real force in our lives. With Him, there need be no fear. There is no failure He hasn’t lived through with us. There is no point in self-editing our lives, when we enter that room with our Confessor … we can choose to share, with confidence.

I pray we realize the power of truth in the Confessional … it is freeing.