Who said…

Vulnerability.

We come into this world with it and leave this world with it too. From the beginning of time mankind has lived under the daily influence of a sense of being “less than” some other power, force, or consciousness.

We continually attempt to “mask” our perceived nakedness in actions which often cause more harm to us than confront the truth about our condition. These masks can be in the form of education, position, wealth, possessions, and relationships. Each mask offers us protection from our insecurity simply by allowing us to hide from those who do not possess what we have acquired. A bolstered sense of superiority we believe is the remedy for vulnerability.

The biblical record states how the first man masked his nakedness with the foliage of the garden he had been placed within. When the Creator, the ground of all being, sought for the man, the man felt compelled to hide because of his perception of being vulnerable from his actions. This is the plight of all humanity.

Our actions, more often than not, condemn us rather than compel us. How can this be possible? The answer can be found in the Creator’s response to the man when the man was asked why he was hiding. “Because I was naked,” was the response from the man.

“Who said you were naked?”

Who said…
…you weren’t smart enough?
…you weren’t tall enough?
…you weren’t skinny enough?
…you weren’t old enough?
…you weren’t gifted enough?
…you weren’t successful enough?
…you weren’t rich enough?
…you weren’t beautiful or handsome?
…you needed that car, house, dress, coat, shoes, watch, or (fill in the blank)?
…you couldn’t teach, write, speak up, sing, act, draw, paint, engage an audience or class?
…you can’t touch this or be touched by that?
…you aren’t worthy, dependable, valid, honest, pure, charming, accepted and loved?
…you are responsible for the actions of others you have never met?
…you are a product of generations who lacked accountability?
…you are not as innocent as we think you are?
…you must repent for your wickedness?

Ah, yes…repent! This always follows the trail of vulnerability like a pack of wolves following an injured animal to its demise. There is blood spilt in the battle of your mind which must be licked up by the dogs of war while your wound festers into a pool of puss, oozing all over everyone in the form of bitterness, envy, anger, greed and resentment. REPENT, ye sinner!

Bullshit! Who said repentance was crying out to God about how unworthy you were? Again, who said?

Let’s get right down to the nuts and bolts of it. Who said you were vulnerably naked? You did, right? You looked around and decided you don’t look like or have what others around you have and the difference rattled your sense of conformity.

Who said you had to conform, had to fit in or be left out? When you think of who that person was, ask who told them, and keep asking on down the line of history. Eventually you will realize that you have been merely following what other thought you should be doing rather than doing what has been intended of you from the very beginning.

At this defining moment, you will have to decide on whether you are going to continue being a creature of other’s habits or if you are going to truly repent. Repent simply means to change your mind. Its no big theological dilemma. Change or not, its up to you. Secure the mask of your vulnerability and thereby strengthen the hold others have on your destiny, or, embrace your destiny through acknowledging you are exposed, and it doesn’t matter.

Yes, you read that correctly, it doesn’t matter. The first man was naked long before he told himself he was. It was only when he evaluated his action as being right or wrong that he developed the consciousness of “not-being.” None of us have the capability of “not-being” simply because we came from the ground of all being and possess the consciousness of “all-being.” We plainly must stop believing how we are “not…” and just “be,” warts and all. And so, in the words of Forrest Gump, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”