Growing up I had several musical groups I listened to. Early on it was the Beatles, Turtles, Credence, Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, and my all-time favorite, Tommy James & the Shondells. (But you already knew that didn’t you Floyd?).

Saturday night I turned on the TV to watch some scores and while I was surfing came across a docudrama about the Temptations. “My Girl.” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” “Just My Imagination.” “You’re My Everything.” And more. They were a hit making soul machine throughout the 60s and into the 70s. But like many other singers, then and now, they had their secrets. Secrets which caught up to them.

David Ruffin died of a cocaine overdose.

Eddie Kendricks died of lung cancer from a lifetime of chain smoking.

Paul Williams died of alcoholism and a gunshot wound.

A later addition died of a drug overdose.

The group, even though they had been childhood friends from the same neighborhood, was rocked by strife, arguments, and mistrust. Marriages ended. Jealousy was huge.

We often look at people with stars in our eyes. Proof positive? Check out the reaction of today’s paparazzi as they “hound” celebrities. TV. Sports. Movies. You name it. Recent revelations show they also carry secrets.

Me? I like my anonymity. But guess what? I have secrets too. We all do. We might say, “I’m on open book. What you see is what you get.” But my wager is…not completely. Past and present mistakes. Past and present indiscretions. Past and present regrets take their toll.

Complete honesty is hard. We fear exposure. We fear expulsion. We fear not being loved and accepted. Full disclosure puts fear in the stoutest heart. But there is ONE who knows us as we are…all our sins…all our failures…all our secrets…and still loves us unconditionally. HE makes us new, beyond our imagination.

Any thoughts?