Sacred nudity

Yeah Baby!

I'm getting naked with Jesus!

Oh, I know that sounds a tad irreverent to some of you, but I truly mean this in the best of all possible ways!

You see, I'm currently preparing a speech about the spiritual discipline of simplicity and I'm approaching this topic by describing how my willingness to become spiritually naked before the Almighty God has been absolutely foundational to my practice of spiritual simplicity.

I've decided to open my speech by disclosing a deep dark secret from my youth. You see, in my younger years, it was well known by most of my friends that I was quite the nudist. (Gasp!)

Yes, you read correctly. Whilst I was a young college student, I whiled away many an hour butt naked at local "clothing optional" beaches (beaches in this instance were sandy strips along river banks or lining lake shores) and hot springs.

I'm quite the "proper" Christian woman these days and I no longer frequent places that encourage, much less practice corporate nudity. I suppose you could say that I consider my clothing to be but one tender mercy which I graciously and lovingly extend to others.

My husband thinks that I might just be walking a fine line with this approach and he has suggested that I prepare myself for offending some of my audience's finer sensibilities.

Thus I now find myself in a quandary.

Do I continue this tact with my speech?

Do I risk offending my brothers and sisters in Christ by sharing this little tidbit about my secret, former life as a college nude-nik?

Do I risk suggesting that as uncomfortable and frightening as it may be, each one of us must at least try to strip away the pretense of our life and stand naked before God?

Am I truly being crass if I ask everyone present to get naked for Jesus' sake, to strip themselves bare, so that they might discover that they are completely and utterly dependent upon God for everything in their life?

Maybe I am....but then again, maybe God has called upon my crasser self to speak just this message.

Why, oh why did I agree to do these speaking engagements?

I suppose this is where the proverbial buck stops and all excuses end. If I myself am not willing to stand naked before others, before myself and before God, for the sake of Christ, then I'm just blowing spiritual smoke up everyone's patooty, aren't I?

Dang nab it! I've never been much of smoker, so I guess when Saturday evening rolls around I'll be sharing straight from my little ole clothing optional heart!

Pray for me, won't you? I'm afraid....sorely afraid!