As my roomies and I travelled from Lakeland, FL to Huntsville, AL on Spring Break (a 10+ hour drive), we were driving via a tree-lined highway. Mary Martha was asked to watch for deer on the sides of the road. Wanting to be helpful, I volunteered to watch for other woodland creatures like nymphs and fairies. It was suggested that we watch for gnomes as well. The following conversation took place:
MM: Hey, Michelle, if you catch a gnome, can I pet it?
M: That seems scary to me.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
because I'm a J . . . I'm planning to be spontaneous today
I am planning on being spontaneous today if I get my homework done.
I am planning on a trip to Target, and I don't really need anything.
I might drop by and visit someone on campus who I may or may not have emailed about spontaneously coming over on Friday afternoon.
I may drink a soda, and a beer.
Spontaneity is really hard work for a J. I really suck at it. But, maybe if i plan in some practice time I can improve.
I am planning on a trip to Target, and I don't really need anything.
I might drop by and visit someone on campus who I may or may not have emailed about spontaneously coming over on Friday afternoon.
I may drink a soda, and a beer.
Spontaneity is really hard work for a J. I really suck at it. But, maybe if i plan in some practice time I can improve.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Shame on you, Shame.
Okay, so kind of a serious post, but I am blogging, and this is what I've been thinking about.
So I've been exploring a past PTSD experience I had while in Zambia during my current sessions with my counselor. I realized that I had attached shame to part of the near-car-jacking event. Because I felt shame, I didn't admit to myself or those around me that I needed help. I hid. This has lead me to think a lot about the nature of shame and why we do the opposite of what we most desperately need. Shame tells us to flee from relationship, the thing that can most readily help to remove our shame. Shame makes all our fears flare up. Shame keeps us from freely expressing who we are created to be. Shame keeps us from interacting freely with God as well.
When people talk about how Satan attacks Westerners, they say it's in the sins you can't see. I think this is true. I also think the root of that sin is bound up in shame. We are not who God says we are. We are too marred to be loved by Him and others. We believe we will find rejection if we disclose our shame, where we will more than likely find mercy.
We weren't created to hide. We weren't created to have to hold back who we are. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Shame is a lie. Shame on you, Shame.
So I've been exploring a past PTSD experience I had while in Zambia during my current sessions with my counselor. I realized that I had attached shame to part of the near-car-jacking event. Because I felt shame, I didn't admit to myself or those around me that I needed help. I hid. This has lead me to think a lot about the nature of shame and why we do the opposite of what we most desperately need. Shame tells us to flee from relationship, the thing that can most readily help to remove our shame. Shame makes all our fears flare up. Shame keeps us from freely expressing who we are created to be. Shame keeps us from interacting freely with God as well.
When people talk about how Satan attacks Westerners, they say it's in the sins you can't see. I think this is true. I also think the root of that sin is bound up in shame. We are not who God says we are. We are too marred to be loved by Him and others. We believe we will find rejection if we disclose our shame, where we will more than likely find mercy.
We weren't created to hide. We weren't created to have to hold back who we are. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Shame is a lie. Shame on you, Shame.
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