Not everyone has the same rights or privileges to access the different parts of our story. And while there’s a place for us to be open and honest with others we must still take wisdom with us. It’s not being rude or otherwise unloving to restrict what we share with others based on their level of security clearance in our life.
To be sure, some information about us is public and we don’t mind sharing it even with strangers. Other information is private and we must be discerning with whom we share it.
For instance, our wife and our best friend might have top-secret clearance, in which we are an open book. Extended family members and other close friends would have priority over casual acquaintances, but still not to the level of those in our true inner circle.
Whatever it looks like, the information shared is based on the nature of the relationship itself and not merely our willingness to share. Our desire to be an open book doesn’t mean it’s wise to give everyone top-secret clearance to our life. The call is to steward our relationships and not just our feelings. And our lack of embarrassment doesn’t justify sharing intimate information with just anyone.
As such, some information is reserved for those closest to us. We don’t freely share it even if we want to. And we can respectively decline to comment when others ask us to share things beyond their current level of clearance.
Of course, as we regularly audit our relationships, new clearances might be granted while others are revoked. But, either way, this should be the result of intentionally redefining our relationships and not just getting caught up in the moment.
In the end, your story is too valuable to give unfettered access to just anyone. Consider wisely who you’ve given top-secret clearance to. This is a point of stewardship even when there’s no embarrassment.
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