Shields

In a chapel where I used to work and preach, there were two medieval tapestries behind the altar. In them, were shields adorned with crests of one sort or another. Given the nature of the school, the crests probably belonged to royal or important families, but what struck me about the tapestries most was the fact that the shields were entwined in vines outside a gate. To whom did the shields belong? Why did they put their shields down? What lay beyond the gate?

The tapestries and the questions they stirred have haunted me ever since first seeing them. While working at the school, I even tried to preach a sermon about the shields, but, looking back, I was not wise enough to tell their tale. I may not be wise enough still, but I am traveling a spiritual path that has caused me to reflect of the shields I carry, the gates before me, and the question whether I am brave enough to put the shields down or not.

At a recent college graduation, a student arrived at the podium to speak only to reveal that she stutters. Awkwardly, she made it though her speech and invited all listening to do things not only despite our fears, but because of them. Her courage made me think of the shields.

Brene Brown has written many wonderful works on imperfection and vulnerability. She makes a compelling case for putting down the various shields we carry and walking through the gates that frighten us at our core.

In Christian circles, they speak of the “armor of Christ.” As I child, I liked the sound that and wanted to march onward as Christian soldiers, but I now believe such armor is not made of metal, nor protected with shields. It’s found only by removing the metal that surrounds us, by putting down the shields we use to defend ourselves.

Whether standing at a podium, unsure whether the words will come, presenting ourselves, completely exposed, to a teacher, boss, banker, spouse or child is when we will know if we have the courage to put down the shields of our making and walk through the gates before us dressed in the armor of a God.

 It’s wont feel like enough, but it’s will prove to be all that we need.