Shame

For your consideration…..

Today’s message talks about shame. We all have it or have experienced it at some time in our lives. It is a natural reaction to have when we have disappointed ourselves or someone we care about. The question today is….Then what?

As children we experience shame when we have disappointed our parents. If we were lucky enough to have good parents, they quickly help us make amends, forgive us and then show us that we are still loved unconditionally the same as before.

When we become older sometimes there is no one to hold us accountable but ourselves and our Creator. HOPEfully we know how to make amends. However, whether we can or not it is still necessary to receive forgiveness and unconditional love because shame erases HOPE. It stains the lens of our future. Brene Brown writes:

‘Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.’

We are reminded that our Creator forgives us. We do not have to postulate ourselves everyday and beg. His hearing and heart is perfect. When we ask for forgiveness with an open, sincere, repentant and loving heart, he hears and forgives immediately. We do not have to revisit the incident over and over repeatedly. If we feel we must then either we were not sincere in the first place or we were and our ego is holding us hostage.

Shame has its purpose but once we have dealt with the issue, that purpose no longer serves us and we need to release it. Holding on to it diminishes our possibilities, opportunities and HOPE for our future. The world is better served when we are at our optimum.

That is the HOPE. And so it is.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…..

-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”

-Drink lots of water.

-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Look up. Let Mother Earth and Father Sky remind you how bright your future is.

What made me smile yesterday……

-A relaxing day with AJ and Peanut.

-Chilling on the deck with a book.

-Peanut as a runner. Usually when I leave Stillwater, I have a stop or two to make before I leave town. Anything I don’t need anymore, I drop off at the Goodwill and perhaps a video at the video store etc. When Bruce is with me, I do everything myself. But my handy Peanut, just jumps right out as I pull up and does the running.

-I love cool summer nights when we can sleep with the windows open.

Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris