Posted on by cebliss

Mountain-top Honesty

Cory Richards’ journey to the top of the mountain, took him to some of his lowest places. The National Geographic photographer  suffered PTSD after a near death experience with an avalanche. This led to some dark journeys through alcoholism, marital issues, and job loss.

In a keynote address during the 2017 South by Southwest Interactive festival, Richards shared his story and touched on the role social media played in his journey. At his lowest points, he saw the perfect lives of those around him play out on social media. “There seems to be a hunger for the authentic”, Richards observed. “Through social [media], we are comparing our insides to everyone else’s outsides”.

We are comparing our insides to everyone else’s outsides

For Richards, the answer to this disconnect is honesty “We need honesty, and we need to demand honesty from those around us. The truth matters, and we need to demand it”.

It is through empathy that we find each other. When we find each other, we can work together.

Honesty and empathy are what the church should be good at. Increasingly, it is what the world is longing for.

It is our honesty that can show the world what we have been saved FROM. It is our empathy that gives us the grace to help others.

How do I show up, honestly, in the world today?

 

(Photo: Morguefile)