Thinking of my last post and my struggle with old habbits returning - I was this close (picture my thumb and forefinger held up an inch apart) to keeping that hidden. The temptation to cover and hide is/was huge. We (I think we and hope it ain't just me) are just like Adam who hid his "stuff" behind a fig leaf hoping to present a picture that was better than reality.

Yet if you've ever spent an extended period of time naked (i.e. backpacking in Denali for a couple hours in the old birthday suit) you know that there is something very freeing when all cover is removed. It's true with our short comings too. Wouldn't it be nice to live a life with the closet fully open without fear of our skeletons "being found out." Better to throw open the closet doors and say, "there it all is!" (in approprate places of course) than to live in the shame and fear that someone will find out our secrets.

In fact this is the way of grace. Jesus' work on the cross covers all the things we wish we didn't do. And his grace, when embraced, gives us the freedom to loose the fig leave and walk without shame. This is why Jesus confronted Peter three times after the resurection. He took Peter directly to his three-fold denial and said my grace covers even that.

So what are you hidding?

Peace and Joy
Rob