secret, secret, i've got a secret

GRATEFUL GIRL'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When someone tells you something privately and asks that you keep it confidential, that's a pretty big deal. In some walks of life (i.e. for physicians, attorneys, priests, undercover agents and many types police or military personnel), disclosing privileged information is actually illegal. Still, even for us regular Joes (and Josephines), it is unethical, immoral and just plain wrong for us to share information brought to us under the condition of discretion. Unless its revelation could save or dramatically alter a life, there's is never a good reason to betray someone to whom you have sworn a vow of secrecy. 

In the workplace, in the community, heck, even at book club, when someone trusts you with something private, it is a privilege, an honor and a responsibility not to be entered into lightly. So remember, if you are approached with the question of whether or not you can keep a secret, ask yourself:

1. Will you, no matter what the information is, be able to keep it entirely to yourself? This includes Mom, your spouse and your BFF, BTW.
2. Are you comfortable assuming what may be a burden to know? Especially if it evokes a strong emotional and very personal response in you.
3. If you decide it is something you must share, will you be honest enough with the secret giver to say so? Don't pretend; cop to it from the get go.
4. If the news is something you feel is troublesome to the point of danger to another person, will you try to persuade the secret giver to either confess or shift course? If this is going to cause bodily or emotional harm or severe complications or a conflict of interest in your office, family, etc., you must be vocal in your opposition.

If the answer to any of these is NO; you've got to exempt yourself from the process before it even begins. There's a reason they call it KEEPING a confidence. 

Jn 6:63c, 68c-R. Alleluia, alleluia. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life. Gospel Mk 8:27-33-Jesus ... asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.