Arsenic and Old Lace-appearance vs. reality

You may or may not have seen the old Cary Grant film, "Arsenic and Old Lace". Basically, it's a pretty twisted tale...based on a twisted plot...which is unraveled by twisted characters-all of whom have deep secrets. Yet, mere appearances are soon shed as reality claims its rightful position-front and center. Most of us are pretty twisted, but yet, think we do a reasonably good job conforming our outward appearances, actions, reactions, etc. to what we believe are cultural/societal/generational expectations.

So what about the concept of appearance being reality? Is appearance REALLY reality or is that something said to keep self-contradictions at bay? Well...I believe, to an extent...it's true.

I have a roommate. A great roommate and a great house. Apartment. House-ish apartment that feels like a house compared to a dorm. Well we haven't known each other all THAT well for too long, but we're friends nonetheless. Well the other day we were discussing current events...of the personal kind...and I asked for some honest opinions. What I received was unexpected, and not altogether pleasant...and I realized...appearance is reality. No one enjoys looking their flaws and seeing them for what they really are-flaws...flaws unjustifiable by good intentions or frames of reference. This can be seriously frightening.

My home in Pennsylvania has a 'storage' room on the 3rd floor. What resides there is simply anything unworthy of public display around the house. It's pretty messy...not welcoming or organized...and yet it represents some major aspects of my family and our lives. Point being...when someone enters our home...there's no chance they would ever see that room...the unorganized, outdated mess that represents facets of our past unless they reaaalllyyyy went hunting for it. This fact doesn't make the room any less present in our home. Only in destroying the whole house would the room cease to exist.

Similarly, when my loving apartment-mate forced me to look at that hidden room, it was painful, alarming even-which is ridiculous, because what she saw has been there all along-and yet in my attempt to cover it in justification-I had to face its outward appearance. Appearance is reality. No one knows you like you know you...or like God knows you...and no one knows why you do and say the things you do and say-but they see what you do and hear what you say and make judgements soley based on the words you allow yourself to utter and the actions you willingly perform.

Consider this in your travels...