On Living in Tight Compartments…

Sometimes some people seem to pride themselves on being self-contained, on withholding their thoughts and experiences from others. Up to a point, this may be evidence of a strong and admirable self-reliance. But the most enjoyed things in life are enjoyed as they are shared.

Consider, for example, the common, and often humorously referred to occurrence, of people’s telling of their operations. Even that questional be enjoyment isn’t what it might be unless there is someone else to tell it to. Trips taken are more enjoyed, first of all if there are others along, and secondly if there is someone to tell about them after they are over. Perhaps this explains in part the prevalent practice of bringing back pictures and insisting on showing them⎯even at the risk, sometimes, of being a bit boring. Life is much more satisfying with something shared.

Sometimes husbands and wives live too much within themselves, not sharing enough with one another: of thoughts, of hopes, even of fears, of heartfelt feelings, of pleasant things encountered during the day⎯in short, not enough of opening up, too much of living in tight compartments.

Sometimes children, too, live in tight compartments, and too closely keep their confidences from parents. (And sometimes parents are at fault in seeming to be too busy to listen!) Mothers and fathers and children are missing something preciously essential if they don’t share sincerely, understandingly, with one another, something of the circle in which they live their separate lives.

There is strength and safety in sharing⎯even in sharing fears and troubles when there is need of it. Part of living consists of learning to e a good listener, and part consists of giving out, of entering into, of learning to share ourselves. And refraining from confidences with those we love and live with is not a very rewarding way of life.

It is a trite thing to say, but it is true: that in sharing we receive, that in giving we get. And for a daughter or son to come home of an evening and to tell of a lovely time makes the experience not only his again⎯but others’ also.

To paraphrase one word of this deeply significant sentence from the Saviour: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will [share] his life . . . shall find it”⎯over and over again.