We have likely all been struck with more than a little curiosity upon first noticing two neatly aligned holes appearing in our clothes. After the first experience, it does not take as long the next time to identify the cause: Moths.
Though moths can be beautiful to behold, when they find their way into or on top of our clothing they often make very noticeable holes, and in the worst of places. Depending on the size (and the location) we may be able to fix them. Otherwise, it's time to pay for a new one of whatever it was, once. But while holes in clothing are never a good thing, holes in our literal or in our figurative "heart" are obviously of much more serious concern, including when it comes to getting them fixed. Or, figuratively, we may end up having to 'throw away' what may be showing up today as a "hole" in our life.
To put this in a better perspective, consider the following ancient biblical proverb which uses the same imagery of a moth on clothing, and for what can happen if we have "holes" in our "heart" from "moths" in our lives:
Just as a moth in a garment or a worm in wood, so also sorrow [or, 'depression'] in a human hurts the heart.---[From March 30, 2011, Twitter "Day Text" translation of the Greek "Septuagint" version of Proverbs 25:20.]
"Worm holes" may damage the appearance of "wood," but since wood for us is often covered behind or underneath a finished surface, I borrowed the "moth"/"clothing" ("garment") analogy to best illustrate how "sorrow" or "depression" can eat away at "a human heart."
When it comes to the effects of "depression," it is not only our literal or our figurative "heart" that is at risk, for depression or sorrow can spill over into our relationships. That's when the effects of the "moths" in our own lives become even more apparent because others begin to see the "holes" in our disposition or in our production, usually when we show up at work, at school, or anywhere else with "clothes" (real or figurative) filled with "holes."
Like literal holes in our clothes, however, once they are in our lives we must deal with them. At least we should try to as soon as we can, and certainly before throwing anything away that might simply need some adjustment. Other things in our lives may require that we move on from what we cannot change. But unless we do something with the "holes" in our lives at some point, we will never be able to match the presence of others in ways which do not end up making us less secure (and, so, insecure) among those without "holes" like the ones we may still not have fixed.
Of course, it is easier to find holes in our clothing than it is to find or to identify with holes in our lives. Often this is because for each of us "holes" in our lives can be closely related to what is usually painful or difficult. Because of this, we may at times act like we can't find the "holes" or like we can't find the "moths" causing them, though upon reflection they may be in plain sight. Still, even if we can at times cover "holes" in our lives on the inside, it is not always easy to hide them on the outside, just like we cannot always hide holes in our real clothes.
At some point anything we have in our life that is causing us obvious pain must be addressed, including and perhaps especially "holes" of depression. We may find it is simply a question of readiness, or better yet a willingness first to make sure we can identify and understand 1) the "hole" and 2) the "moth" that is 'hurting our heart.' Find the "holes" in your life; then find the "moths" that made them; and then no matter how beautiful they may be literally or figuratively, if they continue to cause holes in your life go ahead and get rid of them. Then you'll once more be able to wear your "self" out!
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