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Shame Revolt: "Life Happens" and How "Frozen" is Shame Revolt at its Best

1/25/2014

5 Comments

 
Picture
I recently saw Disney's newest animated film, Frozen.

If you haven't seen it, stop. Close your smart phone, tell your spouse or child you'll  be back in a bit. I'd recommend leaving a babysitter in your stead for the little ones. Now go see this film...now!

Without spoiling anything the trailer doesn't, Frozen is in large part about Elsa, an older sister, born into an undesirable circumstance that makes her feel afraid, different, and
ice-olated (yeah, I went there). She feels cursed by the fact that she can cause a literal chill in any room she enters. Her sister often asks her "Do you want to build a snowman?" only to be answered by cold silence from behind a locked bedroom door. For her own protection, and she believes for the protection of those around her, Elsa builds walls so high human connection, one of the things we are designed for at our most basic level, is impossible.

Those who've seen the show know well the most powerful musical moment is Elsa singing "Let it Go." This Idina Menzel gem was nominated for a Golden Globe (Side note: while I LOVE U2, I believe the Golden Globes chose incorrectly here. I'm sure they will now rectify this decision.)

If you haven't seen it, check the song out here before proceeding.
I suspect the song is so compelling because it cuts to the heart of shame for those of us who unknowlingly let shame sneak into our lives when we find ourselves in situations beyond our control. We allow voices to arise from within, whether from ourselves or from "The Accuser," that convince us in our heart of hearts we're unlovable, undeserving, un-everything.

The song is Elsa's beginning of living openly in the identity "heaven knows" she's suppressed for years. It falls short of true community in the moment but is a powerful first step in that direction.


I didn't realize until two or three years ago how much I had isolated myself well into my adult years. My roots are humble. We were a farm family in rural West Tennessee. My brothers and I chopped cotton every summer while many spent theirs at camps, on vacations, hanging out. What modest farm house we had was lost to weather and cattle prices beyond our control. We moved in with my grandma for a few years to survive. While I loved my family and the small towns in which my family lived, I could sense from a young age that at times we were judged as "less than" by the "haves."

It was a lie, of course. It always has been. Yet, the sting of sly glances remain. Someday maybe I'll write more here.

That's why, personally, I love Frozen and why, I suspect, many of you do too. Life has happened to us.

We were born too slow, "big boned," barren, two inches too short or three too tall,  We lost the baby, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend due to factors we couldn't control or explain. We were born into a family more Dollywood than Hollywood, the company downsized, our parents decided others could raise us better.

Maybe our dads expect our performance to always be just a half-step better? Perhaps our moms attempt to make us her trophy child instead of a child of God?

Unfortunately, we were born in a "Can anything good come from that place?" kind of town?

As mentioned in my last blog, there are two ways I believe shame begins to beat us down. The first of those is allowing the situations in which we find ourselves to trump the voice of God that says we are "good" and "his image," we are a big deal in the cosmos, despite appearances.

So, your point to ponder this week is:

What situations have I allowed to create a voice within me which steals my joy as God's good, image-bearing-in-the-cosmos, "big deal" status He's woven into my DNA?

*Image used above is from www.BestMovieWalls.com. Go check out their great stuff!
5 Comments
Whittney Hendren
1/25/2014 02:02:28 pm

Rusty, this was an amazing read! Thank you! Btw, I never looked at you as a have-not. You have always been such a great guy. The world is in desperate need of more people just like you!

Reply
Rusty
1/26/2014 03:26:09 am

Whittney! Thanks for the commenting and for the complement my hometown friend:) Shame is usually about what is felt internally, not what is perceived externally. I didn't have the vocabulary or understanding in my teens to know what was happening inside and outside myself. I think that's the story of us all.

I'm attempting some amount of vulnerability so others will be brave to do so. Its the only way we can be known, the only way to true connection and community. Very cool to know one of my hometown (and I believe DHS homeroom) friends is reading! Feel free to share with others who need to battle shame in their lives and need to know theirs a great big God that made us his great big deal :)

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Eddy Efaw
1/27/2014 09:34:12 am

Great post Rusty! I love the way you found God in this movie. I have a suspicion that the Truth within it is one reason why it's the most popular movie Disney has had out in a long time.

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Susan
1/27/2014 07:18:55 pm

Beautiful, both the movie and this piece. I'll bet, like me, you cried like a baby that kingdom truth once again makes its way through a film designed for children into the hearts of us grown-ups living in a secular world! God is aMAzing.

Reply
Andrew link
1/30/2014 08:52:02 pm

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Reply



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