Scripture reading for today: Malachi
If you’ve joined me in reading through the book of Genesis, I wonder if you notice the cycle of shame. The book starts out promising. Creator God pauses as He creates and cries out – “It is good!” – (as He makes man in his own image). Adam waxes poetic about his beautiful, newly minted bride. “CEO of the garden” must have been an awesome career path.
Then comes the nasty fruit-tasting incident, and the cycle begins. Pain comes to Adam and Eve in various forms. They respond with fear (Who wouldn’t? God gave them one negative instruction, and they couldn’t even manage NOT to do that one little thing…) Shame has entered the picture, and suddenly Adam is afraid to be seen naked in front of God. Blaming comes next; Adam blames Eve. They get kicked out of the garden and the next thing you know, they’re having trouble with their kids. Sound familiar?
We have our cycles of pain too. Perhaps you can take some time to reflect this week and pay attention to your own cycles of pain. For addicted people it goes like this: pain, reaching for pain relief, short-term pain reduction, negative consequences, shame and guilt, renewed efforts to behave, buildup of pressure, more pain, and then more acting out. If you want more information on this cycling, you may want to check out the January 13-14, 2007 message. Look for it at http://vimeo.com/19734443 .
I will leave you today with one thought. Lots and lots of people have been caught in the trap of the cycle of shame. Some have learned a new way of living. They found it by busting out of their denial and fear of the pain of change. There is help within the community of people who’ve learned how to find their freedom. It’s my prayer that you find that resource and embrace it if indeed you need it!
You will never succeed at life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up, then God will show mercy to you. Proverbs 28:13 Good News Bible