Courage

 

  “I have courage in God’s presence, because I am sure that he hears me if I ask him for anything that is according to his will.” 1 John 5:14

 

  I almost did a second post the other day, excited for this opportunity to share some more art and speak about courage. Waking with anticipation is a rare event. However, spotty internet meant it wasn’t possible. Thankfully, this has been recitifed.

  Courage and bravery…I once heard someone say that bravery is doing something despite being afraid. That takes courage.

  Danielle Strickland, who resigned as a teaching pastor at The Meeting House, has chosen to be an advocate for any woman who has been abused by clergy or any other church member. Her resignation was both a protest over and an invitation for the church to change how it handles such matters. A website, www.hagarsvoice.com, has been created as a safe place for women to come forward and share their experiences regardless of denomination.

  Maybe the biggest element of courage is trusting God. Danielle has modeled this tremendously, sacrificing a pay cheque to do what is right.

  Hagar, the first victim to come forward preferred her identity remain anonymous. She chose that name because Hagar is the woman whom God sees. To constantly refer to her as The Victim only distanced us from her humanity and her pain. Some have called this cowardice but more on that in a minute.

  Bruxy also went to social media following his resignation. He wrote an online confession which, with other women coming forward with allegations, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

  Social media has given the public an opportunity to weigh in. It’s a judgment bath and, sadly, rather ugly especially if we call ourselves Christians.

  I have taken some time to read these comments, disturbing as some of them are. I honestly pray that some of the men who have weighed in don’t have daughters because their words only reinforce the idea that women should just shut up and take it because, after all, it’s their fault.

  This is a lie.

  The cries for Hagar to reveal her actual identity are particularly hard to read.

  When a woman presses charges of rape against a man, time and again we hear how her reputation is smeared by the defense. Perhaps her promiscuity is brought into the picture or drug use or the fact she was impaired. Her lifestyle choices are blamed for the assault. 

  Her femaleness is blamed, too. She’s a woman who put herself in this dangerous situation…what did she expect?

  The number of women who think this way as well is staggering. Our social conditioning is gravely alive and well.

  So here’s the thing, and I will direct this towards men, how can you blame someone else for your lack of control? How can you believe that abuse is deserved? How can you infer it is your male right to take advantage of someone?

  Hmmm…didn’t expect that to come out this morning but it’s a story I am all too familiar with.

  I thought this was about courage.

  Hagar choosing to remain anonymous is not a measure of her courage. If anything it is a grim acknowledgement of how women are treated in cases of sexual misconduct, rape, or abuse. It’s a disturbing comment how such things are, more often than not, disregarded and swept under the rug.

  The plight of Canadian missing and murdered aboriginal women clearly demonstrates how grievously alive and well this attitude is.

  Why would Hagar want to reveal her entire self to even more abuse? Despite her anonymity, there’s been plenty directed her way.

  What would have happened if she hadn’t been believed? That, too, happens far too often.

  And there is courage to the Nth degree. In spite of the risks, in spite of the cultural attitudes, in spite of living in a patriarchal society, in spite of the church’s history of ignoring such charges, Hagar came out of the shadows and into the light.

  It’s no wonder it took so long.