I have found the recent discussions on talk shows about the issue of ‘crying’ quite interesting. They began over a crying episode that Ellen Degeneres had on her show. It seems she was involved in a botched pet adoption that caused several people and one dog to experience devastating disappointment. I did not see the original show but have heard countless people’s opinions about a person’s right to cry in any given circumstance. It seems, in some people’s opinion, Ellen crossed the line with the intensity and public display of her crying. Somehow some people tied this to ‘women crying’ which again, to some people, led directly to whether or not women should hold a public office of high standing given this disturbing bent toward crying, especially in public. (If you detect a defensive tone here, you are correct. I am a crier.)

All this conversation brought to mind a movie called Broadcast News starring a young Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks and William Hurt. Holly Hunter was a woman trying to make it big in the news business. The stress was terrible, she was a perfectionist, and she was the producer, in charge of highly intense news broadcasts. At different intervals during the movie, you would see her go into a room, close the door, sit quietly and then cry uncontrollably for several minutes. Just as quickly she would wipe her face, straighten her clothes, open the door and head out for more. Ever feel like that?

I am not sure where or when crying became taboo. I know that it is true that some people can ‘turn tears on’ for their personal gain or to manipulate a situation. But tears are a part of our body’s amazing way of dealing with the pain, stress, grief and healing that is needed in any given life. These drops of salt water remind us that we are made up of mostly water…we emerged from water…we are sustained through water…we are cleansed by water. In the Christian tradition, through baptism, we are we are welcomed into the Body through water.

As anyone who has ever participated in Bible Quiz will tell you, the shortest verse in the Bible is "Jesus wept." (John 11:35) Certainly in his lifetime, there was cause for much crying as well as joy. The same can be said for each of us. Some days we are simply meant to have a good cry, to feel the warm, healing tears wash down our faces, clearing out all that needs to be shed. Maybe it was just such a day for Ellen. It had all simply come crashing down and she happened to be on screen and couldn’t stop it. I hope the tears did what was needed in her life.

I wonder if Margaret Thatcher was ever seen to be closing a door,behind which she quietly sat until the tears came for those who were starving for what they believed or those lost in the Falkland Islands? We will probably never know. But for her sake, I hope so.