Rachel Dolezal didn’t identify as a white…so she chose to become black. But, in reality, she couldn’t become black. It is something you are or are not. I was born white with white parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents. I am white. No matter how hard I try, I can never be anything else. Rachel changed her hair, deepened her skin color, associated with blacks and their culture, studied African-American studies. She passed herself off as a black woman and was quite good at it – she fooled a lot of people. But she is still a white woman. No matter what. Her natural parents are white.

The former Bruce Jenner didn’t identify as a male. He faked it for a long time.

I am sure there is a great angst in pretending you are something you are not. You must always worry you will be “found out”. Is it worth it.

Recently, someone asked me why I was so transparent I replied, “If I tell on myself then no one can tell on me.” I don’t want to be blindsided by my own sin and faults – and they can show up at the most awkward times! I just find it easier to be honest. Less stressful.

That’s not to say I tell everything I know. Somethings don’t need to be shared. I have seen people try to be honest but tell way too much and the listeners became uncomfortable.  I cannot tell another person’s story – that’s their’s to tell. I get so annoyed when someone comes up to me all excited with someone else’s news…be it good or bad. We should only tell on ourselves. I can only tell on myself – no one else.

So…telling on myself makes life a lot simpler. Yes, I do open myself up to criticism and misunderstanding but I don’t have to pretend to be something I am not. Poor Bruce and Rachel – the years they pretended and where did it get them? Rachel has become a joke and known as a liar. I am distressed for her parents and family. Bruce has become a hero to some – not to me – and is making a large fortune off of his situation. But the story isn’t finished. I suspect he will not be a happy person, content and fulfilled.

I am not sure if it is a “fad”, a trend…but what happened to contentment? Content with race, gender, size, shape, family…somethings we can change. If we don’t like our job, or size, or income we can work to alter that, within reason. God made us as we are and put us where we are. He has a purpose and that purpose is to bring Him glory wherever we are. The Apostle Paul told us, “holiness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim. 6: 6) He also told us that  he had learned to be content. (Phil. 4:12) Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have (Heb. 13:5). The Hebrews reference is to material things – but the other references are not limited.

God says He wants truth in the inward parts – down deep where no one sees – but God. King David prayed that God would keep him from hidden faults. Transparency is freeing. It is also God’s desire for us. I don’t think we need to worry about being trans anything. Let’s be content and grateful for what we do have and who we are.

PS – I know these matters are complicated. There are pathological, psychological, sociological issues involved. But there are spiritual issues, too. We make matters worse by compounding them with sin.