The illusion of innocence

The other day, I had my own experience of The Emperor's New Clothes.  No, not exactly the same since it did not involve naked dancing in the street (just to reassure you).  Instead of parading around thinking we are wearing some wonderfully beautiful new clothes, when exactly everyone can see things no one should see, this little incident revealed that the innocence we wear daily is more illusion than truth.

It was a small thing.  It was an incident that for many would have passed unnoticed, unremarked or possibly ignored.  But he called me out.

He was just a bystander; a friend, yes, but just an observer to all that unfolded.  I was ....well, tired, at the end of my reserve of patience, under long running pressure....at the center of this unfortunate incident.  You see, she had asked me this question before.  Many times.  I had answered it many times, and each time the same way.  She would then disagree with a re-statement of her argument.  I would acknowledge our impasse.  We had danced this dance many, many times. Only this time, I wasn't kind, I wasn't nice, I was definitely not patient.

When it first started years ago, I thought she was forgetful.  Then I thought she was deliberately annoying or just plain hostile.  Then I came to understand that she was, even after all these years, still working it all out.  My role, apparently, was to be steady, consistent and....kind.

Which I wasn't.  And he called me out.  He knew the stress and fatigue I was experiencing but still he called me out.  It went like this.   "A little testy there."  "I have had this conversation with her before.  This exact conversation."  "Still, a little harsh,"  "Really? Are you scolding me?" There was a moment of silence.

"Let me ask you 3 questions." he said.
"Who has the power and authority, you or Mary?
"Who is frailer, you or Mary?
"Who is the pastor?"

Like I said, it was a little incident. Mary deserved and received an apology soon after.  But here's what happened next.

"I feel so exposed" I said.
 "Not really," he replied. "Anyone could see what had happened.  You simply covered yourself in the illusion of your innocence.  We all do.  It's how we get by."

The illusion of our own innocence.  We cloak our ugly parts, our frail and worn out parts, our deliberately nasty parts in the illusion of innocence.  It's how we get by.  But it's only illusion, because anyone standing by can see the truth.

Jesus once said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free."  Gloria Steinem added, "but first it is really going to ****** you off."

Maybe that's why they got so angry at Jesus.  By speaking the truth, he crushed the illusion of their innocence.  He did it out of love and loved us through it all.

Even as he died.

In the end it wasn't our innocence that mattered, it was his love.

A blessed Holy Week to all.  Join us tonight to remember this Jesus and his love for his followers.  Luther Memorial, N Syracuse @ 7.