Embracing My Scarlet Letters

 

The Scarlet Letter.

You know how the story goes.

A Woman makes a choice.

(she commits adultery and ends up pregnant, while her husband is thought to be lost at sea.)

The general public (busybodies) uncovers her secret.

Clearly a pregnancy cannot be hidden forever, and adultery is considered a top ten sin.

The Woman is forced to wear a scarlet letter on her chest, so the general public knows she has done something unforgivable. (as if she didn’t already have enough on her plate to deal with.)

It’s a fool proof plan of accountability.

Except, it isn’t.

What is your scarlet letter?

I have worn a scarlet letter on many occasions, and now I find it a great attribute. It is a story I can tell my children and my grandchildren with honesty and humility. My personal story has enough elements for a novel. My guess is so does yours.

In some arenas our previous wild sides, unfortunate choices or just things we have done out of desperation are scarlet letters for us to bear for all human existence. Some people would like to make us sweat out our indiscretions for the entirety of our lives.  It is called graceless unforgiveness. I sometimes call it mindless, but I digress.

Been there, have several shirts. But I don’t wear them. I refuse to allow individuals to shape who I am to myself or other people. I won’t wear their scarlet letters assigned to me, but I will embrace my own.

For example: there are people in every community who think everything is about them. Every word written, every example made, every song played. Really- every single reference has them worked up.  My friend calls it guilty conscience, which makes me laugh out loud. I typically do not notice until I hear they are upset, assigning a scarlet letter to their alleged assailant. These are the same ones who quickly point out others mistakes, judging without correct (or any) information. I do not understand the need to persecute one another. This is why brokenness is hidden- fear.

There are also people who know things about my past who think I am still the same person I was 5, 10, 20 years ago! I don’t even recognize that girl! I read some of my journals and think “Did I actually write/do/participate in that?”   I shake my head, but not in shame. (insert a letter here)

I shake it because there will always be people who throw a scarlet letter on you to feel like they have done something. There are some who are close minded to the possibility of redemption. They are simply stuck. I don’t care to be stuck, so I wear my letters proudly. I use them for good. I share my story, experiences, and mistakes. I learn to absorb the messes in my life and help others to understand their scarlet letters are not shameful. There can be beauty, redemption, and peace.

They are simply moments in time we can learn from, understanding we suffer our own consequences along the way, and come out the other side stronger and redeemed. With an entire alphabet on our sleeve to share with others.