Shame – crafty, scheming, devious and illusive - an emotion whose name alone conjures its own feeling like a witch calling forth an
evil spirit. It rises from the abyss to
plunge its serrated edged dagger of self-loathing into the core of the soul; ripping
open the victim’s self-image from the inside out and leaving their psyche trapped
in its putrefied scent like the wanderer’s misstep into pitch. With its prey firmly constrained it sinks its
fangs of denigration into their character extracting all traces of self-worth,
but never satisfied to leave one numb from the void.
It resolutely
attaches itself inside of the shadows hiding behind memories waiting like a street
thug to strike at any hint of trauma’s echo. Its elusive nature coerces its target to use
its own voice against itself; compelling the bound to participate in its own demise
like a victim at the mercy of its perpetrator. With stealth like intimidation it attacks
convincing the quarry its damaged goods leaving them indefensibly cloaked in an
oppressive shroud of torment and driving them deep into the darkness dividing
them from all that is good.
Shame is an
aggressor skilled in treachery that prostrates the martyr at the altar of its
deception exacting revenge and driving self-retaliation. Shame promotes anguish, discharges sorrow,
conceals dignity, hides self-worth; demanding allegiance to isolation’s
depths. Shame rejects all counsel,
discards support, refuses the truth, snubs encouragement, disallows legitimacy
and rebuffs love. Shames goal is to
eliminate pleasure, dissolve satisfaction, question integrity, induce agony and
kill dreams. It is a calculating,
fraudulent, misleading enemy that oppresses, humiliates and threatens bent on destruction
with the ultimate goal of dehumanizing its prey.
Some capitulate
to the idea that shame is inherent in the human condition, born out of
humanities depraved nature well deserved in the face of its guilt. LIES!!!!!!!!!!! Perpetuating that perception binds shame's sufferer to the baseless belief that they are defective partnering with shames
duplicitous satisfaction. God’s
testimony speaks to the cherished and distinctive nature of humanities essence;
its creation a precious investment that testifies to his/her goodness and mercy. Creatures whose worth is so deeply inherent that
God nailed her/himself to a cross, not to appease Divine anger, but to solidify the
profound legitimacy of his/her eternal acceptance, love and the priceless
nature of one’s person-hood.
Shame is the
antithesis of acceptance and authenticity; the burial garment of hope born out of unimaginable helplessness
and traumatizing pain. Shame is the heaviness of sorrow draped over the heart's eyes obscuring the ability to see one’s authentic self in all their unique purpose and beauty. Shame is not an
emotion that leads to life; but a tyrannical persecutor that intimidates,
rejects, distorts and devours one’s capacity to be loved.
Shame IS the Guardian of Darkness.
