I've been thinking a lot lately about the story of the Emperor's new clothes and wondering about the kind of courage it takes to be the one person pointing out what no one else will say. How are we living lives any different from all those in the Empire? Maybe the only difference between that tale and our "modern" times is that the people around the Emperor were, in fact, clothed, whereas in our day it seems that we are all walking around completely nude but no one is noticing. We are all the Emperor but no one's willing to point out our nakedness.
For the people who know Jesus and are, in fact themselves known also by him, we should have the courage to lovingly talk to our friends who are walking around with nothing to cover their shame. Why don't we? Are we afraid of how they will respond to us? What if the Emperor realized first that he wasn't wearing any clothes? Don't you think he would be angry, hurt, ashamed, and feel betrayed by all of his subjects? What if he was my husband and best friend, the father of my children? Would I risk making him feel embarrassed for the moment so that he might be clothed and unashamed? OF COURSE I WOULD! The shame and the vulnerability he would suffer all the days of his life are such a huge price to pay for my being comfortable and not telling him right away about his indiscretion.
What about something more serious than this fable about a ridiculous and vain ruler or musings regarding a nudist colony? What if people, even with clothes on, were still covered in an unbearable shame, and that shame was caused by their adultery and eventual murder of the one person who had ever treated them well, who had ever loved them, who had ever truly treated them as though they had value and that this knowledge buried deep in their psyche, made them blind, broken-hearted, and gnawed away at them every single day?
These aren't 'what if's but 'what are's. This is the crux of the story we live in every day. Miracle of miracles, the Spirit of the God of Creation opened my eyes, covered my shame, and asked me if I wanted to live a life like Eve before the fall, one where I did not need to suffer the shame, or bear the reproach for my rottenness. How do I relate to the countless others in this Kingdom, this place ruled by a King so worthy, so holy and perfect? He is not like the ridiculous Emperor who cared only for His own vanity, but is a Just and Righteous Ruler who has no shame, but who allowed the Prince, His co-ruler, and most precious treasure, to endure the shame, to be subject to humiliations galore in my stead. The shame that I should bear because I have no clothing and only disgrace, he bore because of the greatness of His love. So my desire, my hope, my longing, is to live a life spent and poured out, helping and serving all who live naked and ashamed so as to direct them to the One, the King, who has offered them clothing, and with that covering comes life and hope and joy inexpressible.
