Is Shame Ever a Good Thing?

“Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalm 34:5

Last weekend, our son performed at his school’s talent show. He’d been practicing Für Elise on the piano for months (which made a great soundtrack for cooking). He worked his reps to imprint it to memory, leaving no risk to chance that he’d get it wrong. The show is not obligatory. He volunteered himself for this level of prep and agony. And as we drove to his school the night of the performance and sat w...