I AM NAKED
“………I heard the sound of you in the garden, he replied. I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid” (Genesis 3:10)
What does it mean to know yourself naked?. Lets quickly look at some short definitions of the word “naked” by Merriam-Webster –
1) Not covered by clothing : NUDE
2) Devoid of customary or natural covering: BARE
3) Scantily supplied or furnished
4) Unarmed, Defenseless
5) Devoid of concealment or disguise.
I want to believe that there is a general consensus that the 5 simple definitions above in one way or the other depict our understanding of the word “Naked”. But beyond the usual thing that comes to mind whenever we hear that word, how does the word “Naked” make you feel?
Many years ago, a former female neighbor of mine was fighting with her step daughter in their small apartment and a man who owned a shop in the next compound, out of his burning desire for peace decided to enter the apartment to separate the warring factions but quickly made a U-turn and ran out. While we were still wondering why he ran out of the apartment, we heard a thunderous voice from the same apartment accusing the man of seeing the nakedness of the woman. Within seconds people gathered, not because of the bloody fight between a mother and her step daughter but because of an innocent man who only wanted to help but ended up seeing a naked woman. Funny right?
Why do we hide in shame when we are naked ? is it possible that nobody has ever seen anything similar to what you are trying to hide (Don’t get it twisted, I am not saying you should walk around naked) but think about it critically, what is it about naked that could make people even kill for it.?
Could it be that Naked means Vulnerable and easily damaged, subject to judgement for beauty and health , unprotected and unarmed in the jungle of nature and man? Could it be why Adam and Eve became ashamed, immediately after their eyes were opened – the first thing they saw was themselves, their faults stood out, their vulnerability was on display. “Un”fortunately for humans, unlike other mammals, whose delicate abdomen are protected by their backs, we are upright creatures, with the most vulnerable parts of our body presented to the world.
Many of us become sad when we stand naked in front of a mirror, because at that point, we begin to see our imperfections, we become aware of our defenselessness, finitude and mortality, some of us feel pain, and self-disgust and shame and horror.(By the way, the mirror only reflects, it doesn’t define) but we sadly forget that we were wonderfully and fearfully made in the image and likeness of God. Quit moving around with a defeatist mindset and stand up straight with your shoulders back.
“So, attend carefully to your posture. Quit drooping and hunching around, Speak your mind. put your desires forward, as if you had right to them- at least the same right as others. Walk tall and gaze forthrightly ahead. Dare to be dangerous. Encourage the serotonin to flow plentifully through the neural pathways desperate for its calming influence.”- Jordan Peterson
In what aspect of your life are you naked right now? where do you feel that unworthiness, wretchedness and unwholesomeness? where do you blame God and others for what you consider your monumental failures?. What do you do with other people’s Nakedness, do you exploit their weaknesses or do you clothe them.?
Do you break people simply because they don’t meet your standard or are you patient with them?
“Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be” – Ralph Emerson.
Clothe someone’s nakedness today.
Broken, Healed, Restored.
