Truth of the Tower
Several times lately I’ve been told I’m too accommodating or a bit too compliant.
I know. I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better. (Yes, that was a joke.)
I have a history of thinking others too much higher than myself. And myself a little too lower than what is healthy. I cut others a bit too much slack while I cut myself nearly none at all.
I know some of the reasons why I do what I do. This week, I got clarity on a few more reasons for my behavior. It happened while I was watching “Tangled”. Yeah – really.
“Tangled” is the story of Rapunzel, locked away in her tower for 18 years. As a baby, she is locked in a tower under the premise that only terrible things awaited her outside the safety of her sanctuary. On one hand, her mother told her how special she was because of her magic hair; how the world “out there” would try to steal it. She described all sorts of evil that would befall Rapunzel if she left the tower. She wanted the young girl to be too scared to venture out.
Mother made it seem like she was Rapunzel’s only protector.
On the other hand, Mother criticized Rapunzel for being too clumsy, too fat, too naive, too stupid, too…too…too – and certainly not enough of the right stuff. She made Rapunzel think incapable of taking care of herself. She wanted the young girl to feel inadequate.
Mother wanted Rapunzel to believe she was utterly lost without her Mother.
When Rapunzel even mentioned wanting to leave the tower, Mother would be right there to assure the teenager that she was silly for even thinking such a thing. Mother would reiterate both points; the world is a cruel place and you can’t handle it. Rapunzel would then become compliant and accommodating. “Yes Mother.” (URGH! YUCK! Hate it when a kid’s show becomes a mirror to my very soul! ARGH!)
Rapunzel’s tower became both a safe place and her prison.
Mother was her protector and her jailer.
Mother was her protector and her jailer.
It’s a pretty brilliant plan – keep us isolated, afraid, and dependent on the safety of the tower.
God says He is our tower. He is our safe place. Yet, he is not terribly interested in keeping us safe from harm and pain. He is much more interested in helping us learn about grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love.
He will not not lock us away. Instead He put us in the front lines of humanity’s suffering and pain and gives us the weapons we need; the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the Gospel of peace, shield of faith, and a helmet of salvation to cover our heads. He breaths his courage and peace into our hearts whenever we falter. He offers perfect grace when we mess up. And He never, ever, ever, ever leaves us to face the world alone.
I’m outside the tower right now. WAAAY outside. I find myself looking back quite often in hopes of catching a glimpse of it – maybe even contemplating running back to it. What I see is God deconstructing it brick by brick, stone by stone. I hear Him call, “Go ahead – I am with you.”
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10
Amen. Life is better outside the tower. and he IS with you.