Have you no Shame?

Shame... what is it? Guilt... Embarrassment... Fear... a boundary that has been crossed? I have for a long time reveled in the freedom and openness given to me through the cross, but is there a place for shame or embarrassment, dare I say modesty. I confess I rarely feel ashamed, or embarrassed, is that something I need to change? should I feel these things?

I think back to when I did get embarrassed or felt ashamed it was usually as I had done something wrong or someone else had wronged me, basically a boundary was crossed. For example when I was a young teen and a feminine hygiene product commercial came on or worse a male enhancement ad (this is still embarrassing in the wrong company) and I would have 'died' of embarrassment, 'How dare they show such personal stuff on TV?' I would think to myself. 'When did we decide that was not embarrassing anymore?' It may be that we just got used to it or that it really isn't that big of a deal.

The feeling of embarrassment is not a fun one but it does serve a purpose. It tells us that there are boundaries and we should think twice about crossing those boundaries, hence the feeling being an unpleasant one. Christ said 'love your neighbor as yourself' and as part of that we should respect others boundaries as if they were our own, not that we have to all have the same boundaries but that their needs and feelings of being violated are just as important as ours.

There comes a point when free through Christ's death and resurrection can become walking all over your 'neighbors' boundaries.