Fear, Abandonment, and Shame

 After reading a couple books about shame by Curt Thompson, I’ve been made more aware of shame.    Shame is insidious, quietly executing its plan.  I need to be aware of it, in every relationship I have.  I can give shame, and others can shame me.  Jesus knows all about of fear, abandonment, and shame. 

Page 224 in the Anatomy of the Soul, Curt Thompson described it so well.  (I’m going paraphrase)

“Jesus’s family had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod.  His parents rebuked him for staying in Jerusalem when he was enjoying dialogue going with the teachers of the law.  His family’s dismissal and condescension toward him.  The scoffing of those who thought his healing and offering of forgiveness incredulous, and to threatening for the established economic and political structures.  His followers abandonment of him, Judas betrayal, Peter’s expletive denial that he knew Jesus.  And yet through all this Jesus paid attention to the his Father’s voice.  His whole earthly life God has reminded him of the way the world is, not the way it appears to be on the surface.  From the cross, he still speaks into the darkness of evil, confident he is heard by a Father who is mindful and responsive to him despite evidence to the contrary.”  “Father, forgive them, for they do not now what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34. “At the height of his suffering, Jesus mind remains clear, extending to them what they most desperately need, forgiveness.”

This is an area, I need to grow in.  When bad things happen to my family or friends or this country, I sometimes doubt God.  I can be like Eve, and change the storyline.  Tell a different story, than the one God is writing.  Instead, I need to trust God he is enough, in any of these dilemmas.  I need to commune with him, listen to his voice, read his word, turn to him with hope in all these things in life that trouble me deeply.  I want to be like Jesus, facing hard things, knowing God knows my thoughts, my struggles, and will be right there with me and my family, and the body of Christ, through it all.