Shields.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
~ Matthew 11:28-30 msg
lent, 2 - shedding our self-protections
If you’re a Trekkie nerd, you will instantly recognize the expression, “Shields up!” from the starship’s encounter with countless enemy vessels. Their high-tech energy shields would thwart all incoming attacks. Until they didn’t. Similarly, psychic shields are an intuitive response to anything we perceive as a threat to our wellbeing. By personality, we have three typical approaches to shielding up: acquiescence, withdrawal, or aggression.
It’s quite understandable, really. If we lie down and play dead, the “bear” may well pass on. Alternatively, we can simply back off the trail and let the “bear” move through. Or if you are of bolder stock, you can run at the “bear” yelling and hope it will be intimidated, turn tail, and run. But what if we didn’t have to do any of those things? What if all those self-protective responses could be SHED in lieu of something more ultimately productive?
This past week we marked Ash Wednesday as the transition into the 40 days of Lent and lead-up to Easter. I think the reason it is often ignored in non-liturgical Christian practice is that on the surface it appears so dour and woeful. And especially at such a dark time in our national and international current events, I don’t think any of us are looking for more reasons to be depressed! But moping over our sins is not at all the way I experience Lent.
As I framed up the “Shed” idea last week, the purpose of Lent is to simply pay fresh attention to any dead weight we are carrying spiritually, emotionally, relationally, financially, or physically (since these are all interconnected) so we can move toward increasing amounts of lightness and freedom. This week I wonder if we might drop the weight of shields and armor, which we can only do reasonably if we are, in fact, secure.
If we were to take the lead of Jesus at this point, we would find that we are indeed ontologically secure. We just don’t always feel secure!
There are just so many legitimate virtues available to pick up at any given point in time. We pick up the ones that feel good and right to us, generally the ones that make us feel the most secure… and then take up the shield at least (if not the sword) against a competing virtue. Any time we find ourselves in relational conflict with another human, it is almost without exception a battle of competing values. When this happens, when we feel ourselves becoming defensive, it is very difficult to reclaim our groundedness, detach from our emotional agendas for the relationship, and slide instead into openness and curiosity. Oh yes, it’s a tall order. But it’s the only path to freedom.
Go ahead—think back to your last conflict, whether it was relational, political, theological, whatever. What was the virtue you were holding to? (That’s the easy one.) Now press further to consider and name the virtue your “opponent” was championing? Can you see it? Can you appreciate it, even if you think your value should rank higher? The sooner you can get there in conflict (even when the conflict is internal and unspoken), the quicker you will shed the unnecessary burdens you are carrying.
“Freely and lightly” is the expression in The Message version of Jesus’ invitation… and who wouldn’t want that? This is the warm welcome of Lent. Don’t miss out.
growing your soul
Okay, here’s a super approachable practice to try for dropping shields: Try to make eye contact with every stranger you pass this week. When contact is made, flash a quick smile. Seriously! It’s the best thing.
serving our world
Same thing. Dropping shields with this kind of momentary connection is good for you, good for them, good for the world!
takeaway
Shields down.