Innocence

Before Shame

Before the awkward silence.

Before the mirror became a courtroom.

Before shame made us strangers to ourselves.

Before the mustard stain on your shirt.

Before the pillow gets stained with tears.

Before saying the words you wish you could take back.

Before the quiet fear that being fully known might mean being later ignored.

There was this:

“The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
Genesis 2:25

No embarrassment.
No inward cringe.
No strategy to determine how to present yourself.
No polished version.
No edited self.
No curated profile.
No hiding in the corner of the party, hoping nobody notices how awkward you feel.

John Milton called it “simplicity and spotless innocence.”
They “thought no ill.”

No suspicion in the thoughts.
No slander in the voice.
No manipulation in the touch.
No shame in the glance.
No flinch in being seen.

They “passed naked on, nor shunned the sight
Of God or Others.”

They were fully seen and never afraid.
They did not perform for acceptance.
They did not fear exposure.
They looked at one another without suspicion.
They welcomed the presence of God without dread.
They lived in the freedom of having nothing to hide.

Open.

Safe.

Unashamed.

And of course they were.

This was their Father’s world.