Masters of Illusion

Audio By Carbonatix

When I drive all across America, I enjoy viewing the scenery as I travel. Inevitably, as I motor through various areas, I will typically happen upon an absolutely beautiful looking piece of land. I usually find one no matter where I’m driving. It’s often on the side of the road and the ground is usually built up around it some 40, 50, or 100 feet. The side of the hill is covered in wildflowers or some other greenery that makes you want to stop and admire the landscaping. There’s usually a little sign in front, and as you drive by you quickly glance to see who is responsible for this little piece of heaven in the middle of nowhere.

I’m stunned when I read, “County Landfill” until I realize there has been a peculiar smell I’ve been sniffing through my nostrils, but the splendor of the landscape distracted me from identifying it. I realize that just over the top of where this attractiveness captivates unsuspecting travelers, there is a huge load of reeking trash that has come from people’s houses.

It prompted me to think about how many of us live our lives like the county landfill. Our families have issues that stink to high heaven, but we mask them with beautiful homes, stylish outfits, expensive cars, and other material goods that make us look like we’ve got it all together, when inside we’re falling apart. Inside, our trash is spread out all over the house while the exterior remains intact, not a blade of grass out of place.

Let me just tell you that in the Seaborn home, we stink every now and then. We’ve got issues. Our baggage, at times, would cost a fortune to carry on an airplane. We’ve got stuff that I don’t like, but we continue to work to change it. We don’t mask it with plastic smiles, fake gestures of contentment, or words that imply everything is fine. We tend to wear our emotions like a clear, plastic raincoat. You can see right through them.

It’s easy to hide the dirt and junk in our lives. We shove it under the rug. We jam it in a closet and then shut the door really fast before it tumbles out. We are masters of illusion who practice carefully hiding the areas of our lives we don’t want people to see.

They say manure is one of the best forms of fertilizer for helping flowers to grow. Knowing that information, I challenge you to not hide behind your problems or cover them up with beautiful things. Turn your home into a place where people can grow and develop through the muck and win.