In Genesis 2:25 we read, "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." Children are not ashamed to be naked in front of anyone. Thus, it was in paradise, and this paradise needs to be back. We need to strip ourselves, undress emotionally, and tear the garments, in the environment of family, church and society. It is vital to go back to the point where we are not ashamed to talk about our traumas and fears, to take off the mask and speak frankly what we think. The factor that produces crisis is the fear of speaking, of expressing oneself, and the fear of what others will think about us. Fear of talking about our pride, traumas, jealousy, and a presumable ineptitude of the spouse to hear. It is necessary to be prepared to speak out, as well as to hear.
When celebrating the golden anniversary, a couple was interviewed by a reporter who wanted to know the secret of such a long-lasting marriage. Then, feeling proud, the husband replied: “Do you know the bread stick? The part that I like the most is the tip of that bread, but since we got married, I cut it and I give it to my wife. That attitude symbolizes a principle of love I follow: She first.” On her part, the wife replied: “I did not know it. I do not like that part of the bread, and for fifty years I have eaten for his sake.” Now that we are getting to know about this, finally, we are going to eat the part we like the most. We have to be honest and sincere in our relationships.
Paul warns: “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Galatians 5:15. In the light of the Bible, it can be said that it is possible to disagree without fighting, to discuss without hurting, and to say the truth without offending.
As leaders, we sometimes hear people get rid of all their problems and open up to us, and sometimes we think: it was not me who would have to hear all this, but an insensitive husband, an incompetent father, a disqualified wife, a brother, a mother-in-law. Those people do not remain naked there, because they need to express themselves and vent their problems. A research that has been done in the U.S.A. on fear shows that speaking in public is in first place, dying is in second place, and not having a comfortable old age is in third place.
We live a social chaos. Many people live in isolation, tied to their world, without courage to discover themselves
By Adalício Fontes - Portugal
