SPEAKING TO THE SOUL

For many years I journeyed with a victim mentality. From a young age I remember my mother pointing out that the tortoise has a rock-hard shell on its back for a purpose. That is, self-defence. So as I explored life beyond the safety of my parental home, I had her words ringing in my ears, “Don’t forget the tortoise. Don’t stick your neck out, it may be cut off.” I’m certain this was intended as a positive encouragement on my life’s journey. Yet, there was a problem.

A tortoise can only make their way forward, however slowly, at the risk of sticking its neck out. So every forward movement is, in fact, loaded with risk. To remain shell-bound offers security from external threats, seen and, more importantly, unseen. Yet, to be in the shell is to atrophy and go nowhere. I instinctively chose atrophy ahead of forward movement. Every threat, seen and unseen, was to be avoided and I blamed my lack of progress in life upon the level of threat I imagined beyond my shell.

Imagine, in our age of terror atrocities, where there is a daily declared level of threat, if we determined to stay put in our homes for fear of becoming victim to a terror attack? The whole of society would come to a halt. What’s more, the space I failed to enter would be left free for the occupation and multiplication of terrorists. Society would surrender to terrorism without a single explosion required.

So while I know theologically the sin issue has been dealt with through Jesus, I remain a sinner, or fractured human being. I can choose to live God’s way, and equally, choose not to. My victim mindset can find many external threats to blame for my God-less behaviour, as Adam demonstrates (Genesis 3:10-12). I have to stick my neck out and confront, own and confess my sin.