Naked part 5
Being naked is nothing to be ashamed about. Especially not in the context of our relationship with God. He has never had a problem with our nakedness. He created us that way. It wasn't until WE had a problem with our OWN nakedness--and tried to cover ourselves with fig leaves--that He even addressed the issue. And He addressed it by covering us with animal skin. Specifically, to my mind, Lamb skin. He covered us... with Himself. So that even the covering up of our nakedness didn't need to be a hiding of who we really are. That's what you do when you're ashamed; you hide. That's what Adam and Eve did in the garden of Eden; they hid from the presence of God. But that's not ever what God wanted for us, or from us. I think 2 Corinthians 6:6 is pretty good definition of what nakedness is supposed to be, "with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love." To me, that's what it means to be uncovered. You're not hiding who you really are. You're celebrating who you really are. Open and honest. Loud and proud. Being who you are no matter what. Letting people see you for who you really are, and then letting them either take it or leave it. I'm not for everybody. I know that. I've said that so many times. And, yes, at the same time, I do try to go along to get along. I try to find common ground with any and every body. I try to be all things to all people, if I can say it that way. Like the example I've been using lately about the fellas at work who like a totally different kind of music than I do. And I mean, they get fired up about it. They don't just like their music. They LOVE their music. So I let them go on and on about it. "This song was so good." I'm not going to necessarily listen to it, but I'm ok with them listening to it. I'm ok with them telling me about it. Because it's not all about me. They're being naked. Exposing what's in their heart. And I don't want to make them feel ashamed of that. I don't want to squash that. I want to encourage that. I want to feed that, so it will grow. We need more pure enjoyment and excitement in this world. We need more people who are not afraid to be who they are. People who are not ashamed of who they are. We need to embrace ourselves, and each other. We need to understand, first and foremost, that God made us the way we are. And He made us that way for a reason. We are--each of us--special and unique. The world needs what we have. Who we are. So rather than hiding it, we need to show it. We need to be loud and proud, in a sense. Not overpowering people, or steam rolling them, but not backing down on the important things in our lives either. Not letting people steam roll US. What's that old line, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." Who you are is who you are. You make it harder for yourself (and everyone else) by trying to be someone you're not. So don't be afraid to be... you. With pure heart. Clear head. Steady hand. In gentleness, holiness, and honest love!