I know this seems to be a lot to ask of people these days, but seriously, everyone, can we all get a grip on ourselves?
I'm talking about this new-found link we all seem to have with out emotional sides. Look, I know crying is cathartic and it's healthy and it's nothing to be ashamed of. I know that, at times, emotions can get the best of all of us. But please note that I said "AT TIMES." This phrase is synonymous with "RARELY." As in, "NOT VERY OFTEN."
"NEVER" might even be acceptable.
I started noticing this little trend at church. We Mormons have a little treat every month called "Fast and Testimony Meeting." Everyone fasts for the day, and then at church, it's Open Mic time, and anyone who wants to can stand up and share their testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Of course, nobody really does that. When I was a kid, what people used to do was stand up and tell what they did that week, or where they went, or share cute anecdotes about their kids or parents or family vacations. Then they'd wrap things up with a rattled off "Oh-and-I-know-the-church-is-true-in-the-name-of-Jesus-Christ-amen." Ok, not exactly what the meeting was intended to be, but hey, it entertains us for an hour or so, and certainly doesn't hurt anybody.
Then it started happening. Every so often, a Weepy Sister would approach the podium. Usually someone who had a bad week or a near-death experience. They'd actually, honestly express their true faith in Jesus, and in the midst of it all, they'd break down and cry.
This wasn't a problem. It was actually quite touching, in fact, to see this rare and genuine show of emotion in public.
But then people started seeing the attention lavished upon the Weepy Sister after the meeting was over. The hugs, the expressions of appreciation and/or condolences, the offers of help or invitations to dinner, the camaraderie--
Next thing you knew, we'd have 2 Weepy Sisters at the podium the next month. Maybe even 3.
I don't know what happened to the world outside the Mormon community, exactly, but I figure it must have been something similar. Maybe people saw the crying audience members on Oprah so often they figured it was just the thing to do. Maybe it was the occasional dramatic tear running down Clinton's face in the 90's, when he got caught getting a little strange and had to re-appeal to the nation's Hausfraus.
I don't know what it was, but I want it to stop already.
Seriously, people, let's start getting a grip on our emotions. At church, it's gotten to the point where EVERYONE is crying. I placed a bet with my friend at church this past Sunday that over 5 of the people sharing their testimonies would cry, and I won the bet before the meeting was half over. They ended up accounting for 50% of the speakers. This is too much. It's starting to look a little phony, in fact, people... not saying it IS, just saying, come on... a little moderation might look more sincere, you know...?
It's even crept into the church's bi-annual General Conferences. I have old recordings of our church leaders from the 50's and 60's, and these men all spoke in strong, powerful voices at our Conferences, denouncing SIN! and proclaiming TRUTH! and in general, making Good Honest Living seem like the most bad-ass thing a 12-year-old boy could do whenever they took to the pulpit.
Boy, are those days ever gone. They all weep now. Over nothing. Almost every single one of them. Within minutes of the start of their talks. I can't help it, I roll my eyes whenever they start in. I try not to be cynical, but when EVERYONE is crying, I just can't help myself. I want to call them up afterwards and say, "Come on, get a grip, if we ever needed strong voices in this church, it's NOW! So buck up, stiffen that upper lip, and speak with a voice of power and strength, not with a total lack of emotional restraint."
There, now that I've surely offended every active LDS reader of this blog, let me move on to offending the rest of the world, and say that it's not just in our church. It's crept into everything-- newscasters, commentators, even the new Speaker of the House of Representatives can't get through a full interview without breaking down like somebody's grandma at a Family Reunion.
Look, crying can really draw an emotional response from a crowd, and is an effective tool for ginning up the masses. But the same can be said for emotional restraint and strength in the face of fear or pain, and frankly, I think this world needs just a wee bit more of that right now then it does the waterworks. We've all had a rough ride the past few years. We're all in pain; we don't need leaders who feel it with us, as much as we need leaders who show us how to transcend it.
Leaders, as well as peers. SO please, everyone, let's all get a handle on our feel-bads, and stop the crying, ok? Fake it till you make it.
