Tag: hiding

Let’s Stop Hiding!

(POEM)

Neal Pollard

We wall ourselves in and keep others out,
In fear that our struggles will be known,
We let Satan attack us and thrash us about
As we struggle, feeling all alone
“No one can know of my weakness or sin,
My worries, insecurities, or fears,
Or I’ll feel less than others, I’ll lose, they will win,
So I’ll languish in secret sorrows and tears.”
Why do we believe this biggest lie
That being known we won’t be loved and embraced ?
Others are perfect, together, why try
To share what will make us disgraced.
Who wants us to hide in humiliation
To isolate ourselves from each other?
Isn’t the devourer, who in his degradation
Makes us hide from our sister and brother?
Or our spouse, who we need to help us overcome
We must not run away from the flesh of our flesh!
Or hide or withhold, in any part or sum
From our helpmeet with whose heart we should mesh.
Alone we are vulnerable, fodder for Satan
We must come out of the shadows into light,
Lean on His family, there is no debating
Be transparent before Him, it’s what’s right!

The Peril Of “Covering Up”

Neal Pollard

Misty Ann Weaver made a tragic decision.  The Houston-area licensed vocational nurse is charged in the burning death of three people after she started a fire in her six-story office building.  Why did she take such horrible measures that resulted in the unnecessary, tragic deaths of these victims?  She was  apparently behind on an audit for her plastic surgeon boss, and she feared being fired.  She just wanted to start a small fire, enough to cause a distraction and buy herself more time.  Obviously, she accomplished more than she intended.

Ms. Weaver is an extreme example of the tendency to try and avoid consequences by resorting to sin to “cover up” a shortcoming or failure.  While few of us will wind up facing three felony murder counts, we are all tempted to “cover up” in this way.  When we fail to study for a test, we may resort to cheating to “cover up” that fact.  When we have a low self-image, we may resort to gossip or backbiting to “cover up” perceived flaws about ourselves.  When we are afraid of negative consequences for not meeting some responsibility or expectation, we may turn to lying to “cover up” that inadequacy.   The irony is seen in that the “cover up” inevitably puts us in greater spiritual trouble than before we engaged in it.

We may “cover up” for fear of the disapproval of others, out of embarrassment or shame, or out of concern for certain repercussions.   Yet, to turn to sin to shield ourselves from the ramifications of our actions is to compound the problem.  Let us have the courage to face God and man, to provide things honest in the sight of all men (cf. Romans 12:17).  Israel was warned about the danger of adding sin to sin (Isaiah 30:1).  It is strength of character to do our best in our every endeavor, but it is also strength of character, when we have failed to so do, to courageously, honestly “face the music.”  However we rationalize, the fallout from this will be less severe than the “cover up” is!

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