My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret . . .
-Ps. 139:15

I recently became aware of the work of Frank Warren. In November of 2004, Warren started a community art project called PostSecret where people anonymously release their secrets by mailing them on one side of a homemade post card. The only requirements are that the secret must be completely true and never have been spoken. He was surprised by the huge response. He has received tens of thousands of post cards from all over the world. He’s published four books, been invited to display in dozens of art shows, launched a web site and used proceeds from some of his projects to benefit National Hopeline which operates a suicide prevention hotline.

You can visit his website (www.postsecret.com) and his books are easily available through his website, bookstores or various on-line purchasing sites. Please note that I would rate some of the content PG13 (or even R) so please be careful about exposing younger children to the material.

The secrets people send in range from silly, funny, poignant, heartbreakingly sad, tragic, disgusting, and frightening. As I’ve perused his books and website, I’ve been struck by several things. I could see how so many people are longing for a community in which they can feel safe being their authentic selves. Some secrets they shared really weren’t what we would normally consider a secret but revealed that the writer just didn’t feel safe telling others around them the truth about themselves. For example, one person confessed that he was a professional classical musician but at home he only listened to rock and roll!

Many people send post cards expressing their doubts and struggles with faith, spiritual matters, and religion. One postcard was created on a packet of religious stickers called “Faith That Sticks” – the kind you can buy at any Bible book store. The written secret said “I would like religion better if it wasn’t so filled with propaganda.” One person confessed that while everyone bows their head in church, they are thinking about what TV shows they want to watch that week.

Some secrets were an effort of deeper self-knowledge, of longing to get in touch with the secrets we keep from ourselves. Some secrets are clearly a part of a journey of self-discovery. You can hear the underlying questions
“Why do I do the things I do?” “Why can’t I be the person I want to be?”

Some secrets reveal great kindness, generosity and nobleness. Others were sent by rascals confessing some trick they pulled. Some secrets have a tone of gleeful gloating as though the secret deed they committed was payback or revenge righting some past injustice toward them.

Some secrets are full of hurt, anger, and struggles to forgive past abuse. Other secrets are full of shame, that is, feeling terrible about one’s self as a person but not because of any specific deed done or undone. Some secrets reveal the ways people feel trapped in life. Lots of secrets reveal a desire to be free from guilt. Other secrets revealed how people were longing to live a meaningful life.

The secrets richly reveal the human condition. In reading them, I realized that as a Christian community, we have scriptures, traditions and practices that readily address the deepest longings of the human condition.

God’s invitation to participate in the Reign of God includes a vision of community, inclusiveness, healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and purpose in life. This is why we invite others to become disciples of Jesus.

Yet, I suspect, that many people, including people who have been members here a long time, haven’t really heard that message clearly. So, Pastor Cindy and I proposed a plan to our Worship Committee which they enthusiastically adopted. We will address the theme of secrets during the season of Lent which begins on February 6th with our Ash Wednesday service. Through our theme, “The Secrets of Our Lives,” we will explore God’s response to our secrets and God’s power to accept us unconditionally, forgive, heal and redeem what ever we are willing to expose to God.

In our Ash Wednesday service, we will look at some examples of the secrets people have submitted through Frank Warren’s work and we’ll introduce our own community art project which invites people to anonymously submit secrets that they would like to offer to God during this season. Each Sunday during Lent, we will study a character in the Gospel who reveals a secret and we’ll learn what happened in their lives as a result.

We have some very meaningful worship experiences planned for the season. I trust that you will find the Season of Lent a rich opportunity for healing and spiritual growth. It will be a good opportunity to invite a friend or neighbor to worship with you!

Walking with you as we follow Jesus.
Debra