Something Weird Under My T-Shirt

Every Thursday we’ll post something on emotional or relational health. Hope it helps.

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This is not the same as Right-Guard Deodorant – But You Probably Knew That

Something Weird Under My T-Shirt

Over twenty years ago I was speaking at a conference in Canada, my wife traveling with me, both of us staying in a friend’s home. The day I was scheduled to teach I woke early to get dressed. It was dark, so I groped my way around the bathroom, not wanting to wake Renee. After showering in the half -light I couldn’t find my deodorant, so I ran my hands over her toiletries, grabbed a container that felt like a roll-on, and applied it under both arms. Then I went over notes, grabbed a cab and showed up at the conference grounds.

Midway through my session I started feeling a burning under my arms. Since I tend to speak with my hands it was especially noticeable, but things went from noticeable to horrifying when I then felt clumps of underarm hair falling from my armpits into my t-shirt sleeve. I kept talking, but no longer with my hands, which I now held rigidly at my sides to avoid anyone seeing what was really happening. And all the while my mind raced until it landed on the only possible explanation: The deodorant I thought I’d applied wasn’t deodorant at all. It was Renee’s hair removal lotion, generously rubbed into my armpits. And working. Thoroughly.

I made it through my talk. I even greeted some people, though I passed on handshakes and hugs, then raced to the bathroom. I doubt anyone knew there was a problem, and I certainly wasn’t going to volunteer it, but there was something very weird going on under my t-shirt, leaving me anxious and vulnerable.

That’s life in this fallen world. We interact with each other without a clue as to what’s really going on under our t-shirts. Sometimes we should know; sometimes we should be more honest, volunteering our struggles, asking for prayer, confessing our faults. But other times a little discretion is called for, and some information just isn’t cool to pass on. Still, one thing we could always use, whether we’re in a place to disclose our private issues or not, is encouragement. Something along the line of, “Hey, I don’t know all that’s going on under your t-shirt, and I’m not necessarily asking to know. But whatever it may be, know that I’m here. I appreciate you, respect you, love you.” ‘

Because what’s happening, though hidden, may not be something as inconsequential as misapplied hair remover. It could be depression, hopelessness, rage or despair brewing just beneath the surface of someone we know, and for whatever reason they’re not feeling free to tell us about it. I’m hoping more of us take up the challenge to be encouragers, by simply reminding the people around us that they matter. I can’t count the number of times I’ve felt led to say something along those lines, then hesitated, then finally obeyed and blurted it out, only to find the other person breaking into tears saying, “You don’t know how badly I needed that!”

So let’s remember today the power of encouragement, unsolicited and given without any particular reason other than the desire to build someone we love up. Because even though they’re speaking normally and keeping calm, you never what’s going on under that t-shirt.