The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves

by Curt Thompson

Healing always requires vulnerability and exposure of our sick and wounded parts, parts often kept hidden and away from our awareness—just as the community in John 9 had kept the blind man out of their consciousness. When they anticipate that the exposure of their shame is pending, many respond fearfully, convinced that they cannot tolerate the discomfort that that exposure necessarily will entail. From the family room to the business lunch to the PTA meeting, there is opportunity for shame to be exposed and healed. And in any of these places, that healing may be met with resistance. For this reason we must routinely engage in confessional communities where we can tell our life stories, reminding ourselves of the joy found in the practice of shame-free emotional nakedness.