Reflection: Naked and shamed
“The serpent was clever… [He]…told the woman, ‘…the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll … be just like God’… she…ate…and her husband ate… [and they] saw themselves naked!… and hid….” (excerpts from Genesis 3:1,4-8, The Message paraphrase)
In many cultures ancient tradition paints the picture of a golden age when people are in an abundant and carefree place in sweet, holy and innocent communion with the deities/God and angels. But none of the stories ends there.
Following on from yesterday, there’s a wordplay in the next breath of Genesis 2 that introduces another character to us readers and to the vulnerable pair.
They’re smooth/ nude.
The snake is slippery/shrewd.
(We know the story so we’re expecting the worst. But Eve’s not. She’s careless to worry.)
‘Mm,’ sings Eve, ‘I get high with a little help from my friend...’*
And if one human decision ever changed the course of history it’s this:
they trade body-shameless for body-cover-up.
being safely known for being exposed and outcast.
Then deceived and deceiving, all humankind sets off in their footsteps.
Far from the safe and wholesome goodness at the story’s start,
bodies guilty and self-conscious, run and hide from God.
Don’t look at my body.
But, if you must look, don’t really see me.
But, if you do really see me, don’t judge me.
But, say you do judge me, don’t find me guilty.
But, and here I’ll come clean, when you do find me guilty, and you will,
Oh Lord, have mercy!
*Beatles song
Prayer:
Hiding never solves a thing, nor does my pretending to be in control. Lord, have mercy.
‘Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Saviour, or I die!’
(Hymn by Augustus Toplady)