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Eletter for Week of February 12, 2004
My Dear Friend, “This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living the truth. But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.” (1 John 1: 5-7) Last week we learned that the true process of Coming Clean must include two key elements. They are: contrition and transparency. Contrition, as we learned, is a deep sense of shame over past sins and a firm resolve not to sin in the future. Here is a simple example. Saying, “I’m sorry you feel angry about my indiscretion” is not contrition. Saying “I’m sorry about my indiscretion and that it has made you angry. I won’t do it again.” is contrition. See the difference? Now, if we again look at Encarta, we learn that transparency is the state of being transparent. That is: easily seen through, obvious and easy to recognize, clearly recognizable as what it, he, or she really is…. This simply means that the process of Coming Clean requires a certain vulnerability. We must be willing to drop the facade that has sheltered us from having a meaningful relationship with our Savior and those we have hurt through our sin. We must surrender to the One who already sees us transparently and allow Him to see our contrite heart as we traverse the schism of loneliness and desperation. We must repent and admit that we are incapable of coming clean without Him. Is it possible that we will be hurt? Yes. Is it possible that we will not be forgiven by those we hurt? Yes. Is it possible that we will suffer the consequences of our bad choices? Yes. It was over thirteen ago (September, 1990) that I went through the process of Coming Clean. The consequences of the choices I made still follow me and may follow me until the day I go to be with Jesus. My children have gone through horrific experiences and may well be scarred for life. And, daily, I feel the pain of crack babies and drug addicts. Yet, I am no longer in bondage! Coming Clean has set me free from those chains and restored relationships. It has given me a new life, a new mission, and an opportunity to help my children and so many others through the healing process. This is the last week on our very brief look at the concept of Coming Clean. Next week, we want to begin to share our thoughts on the greatest challenge of Coming Clean. That is; the process of Staying Clean. After all, what long term benefit can we expect from Coming Clean if we revert back to our old selves? May God richly bless you. Jorge
Jorge Valdes, Ph.D.
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