Re-parenting and Seal Nazis, Part II

(Continued from Part I, below)

As we reached the beach, I saw that the area was roped off with a single yellow nylon cord. A city ordinance sign served as one of the posts holding the cord. The sign said something like: “San Diego city ordinance designates this area as a beach open to the public. Please respect the natural wildlife of the area. This beach does not meet water quality safety standards.”

Seeing the sign, I saw that Gunter’s interpretation was correct, so I began to slowly and cautiously approach the seals. I ducked under the yellow nylon cord. As soon as I did so, I heard catcalls from up above saying, “Get away from the seals! Ma’am! Get away from the seals!” Having been forewarned, I ignored the harassment.

To see the seals up close with their cute little pups was a treat, but the annoying calls continued from above as I inched slowly toward them. Now the seals started looking at me, and started inching backward. I saw they would not let me move any closer. One seal entered the water, and I headed back toward Gunter. The other seals followed the first one, and I felt the disapproval of the onlookers as their observation opportunity swam away.

Gunter and I walked back up the stairs, and I confess, I was slightly embarrassed. No one really paid any attention to me, however; I wasn’t approached by an angry mob at all. We continued our stroll, and a few yards beyond the steps we saw a booth set up by the “Save Our Seals” group. We were cutting a wide swath around the booth, but the young woman who was selling t-shirts and stuffed seals there had her eye on me. “Ma’am! Ma’am! Could I talk to you?”

Reluctantly I approached the booth, and the young activist proceeded to lecture me. “Ma’am, did you hear me telling you to stay away from the seals?”

“Yes, but the sign says it’s a public beach.”

“I had to report you because you didn’t listen to me. Flushing seals is against the law.”

Gunter and the woman then entered into a debate about who has the right to the beach, and after a few exchanges, we walked on. We joked about how my husband would feel about having to come to San Diego to bail me out of jail for seal flushing. And how I would feel returning to Minnesota branded as an ignominious seal-flusher.

It wasn’t until I was back in Minnesota about a week later and I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. That doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I find the Lord may want to “do business” with me. So I began praying about an issue that had come up for me in something I’d been reading. I knew I had shame issues to bring to the Lord. As soon as I started talking to Him about my shame, He turned the light on. That’s what the seal Nazi incident had been all about.

Jesus warned us that the enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Even for the believer, he attempts to steal our identity, kill our confidence, and thereby destroy our effectiveness for Kingdom work. The Bible is very clear about who I am in Christ. The sign is plainly posted in Colossians 2:13-14: “Having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

We have complete freedom, but our shame holds us back. Our shame is nothing but a single yellow nylon cord, easily crossed, but we dare not do so. Why? Because as soon as we do, the catcalls from the enemy, the world’s most experienced “activist,” begin. “That’s not allowed! You can’t do that! You will be reported!” Predictably, we believe the empty threats of the enemy rather than the clear Word that has been posted for us. Crowds of people hold themselves back for every one who breaks through. And territory designated for the Kingdom remains unclaimed.

How good of the Father to guide me along my own personal field trip on the shore of the Pacific Ocean (“ocean of peace”) to teach me this lesson! My Father must really love me.