Thursday, June 25, 2009

A Thought for today
Yea he messed up big time. The latest public figure to fall on his own sword is Governor Sanford. The whole situation is sad enough without people piling on with all kinds of judgements. If you want to go the depth psychology route you can see the shadow theory of personality exemplified in what this man did. The "shadow" theory says that each of us has a shadow side of our selves that we bury in our unconscious basement. If often comes out to play in our sleep. Other times we project our shadow onto others. This theory of personality states that often the most judgemental among us are the ones with the darkest shadows. Judgemental attitudes are often the result of casting shadows toward others because we fear the darkness in ourselves. Unfortunately religious people have a reputation for doing this often.

What must be understood is that our shadow is part of our power. It can also drive the good in us if it is "mastered" and understood. In other words if you do not know the shape of your shadow your shadow will shape you.

Powerful people usually have deep shadows. Politicians "take risks" and therefore their shadows become accustomed to such risks and they thrive on the feelings of power. Mix this with privilege and access and the tiredness and vulnerability that comes with being a public figure and you have a recipe for disaster.

If you want to go farther back than depth psychology go to Romans 8: 12 where Paul talks about walking in the ways of "the flesh" or the ways of "the spirit." There is a battle going on in each of us between the powers and urges of the flesh and our spiritual nature. The truth is that unlike the "dualism" that develops around such thinking, we are in fact a mixture of flesh and spirit. Spirit mixed with flesh mixed with the shadow can make for very complex spiritual creature of the flesh.

One reason to take the "internal spiritual" journey is to embrace that we all have a shadow. Here's the deal, God already knows the shape of our shadow. We do not have to hide it in our basement. God wants us to understand it and its power. The Governor of South Carlina we now know is a very "fleshy" man. We are all very fleshy people and we better sure well know it.

The God of light wants to help us not so much judge us. Don't hide from your shadow but know it. You don't have to go telling everybody about it but if you don't understand its power you could end up like Mr. Sanford in front of the lights having to tell it all.

Old Paul may have not been a depth psychologist but he was right when he said, "to walk by the flesh alone can lead to 'death.'" ....Shine your light into our lives, O great God of light, not so much that the shadows might flee but that we might know and understand them as you know and understand us....
jody

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