Captivating Bible Study - Week Two (Hiding)

In this week's study, we went much deeper into the core of who we are as women, not the woman that God created, but the woman that we assume that we are.  We are defined by are actions, attitudes, relationships, hurts, quick fixes, yet we cannot seem to come into the full understanding that we are so much more than that!  Tonight we watched the corresponding video which taught on the fall of Eve and how women still align themselves with "fallen Eve" instead of the how God sees her....magnificant and breathtaking! Following is an excerpt from Captivating which shares the author's thoughts on how God looks upon His creation of woman:

She is the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God. Woman.  In one last flourish creation comes to a finish not with Adam, but with Eve.  She is the Master's finishing touch.  How we wish this were an illustrated book, and we could show you now some painting or sculpture that captures this, like the stunning Greek sculpture of the goddess Nike of Samothrace, the winged beauty, just alighting on the prow of a great ship, her beautiful form revealed through the thin veils that sweep around her.  Eve is....breathtaking.

Tonight we also discussed our "hiding" places.  We watched a clip from My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  It was the part where Toula sees Gus for the first time in the restaurant, and after speaking with him for just a few moments, she attempts to hide behind the cash register while he is leaving, so he doesn't see her.  We can assume that she was afraid that if she were forced to look into his eyes at that moment, that he would not like what he saw.

What is it that makes us want to hide our true selves at times? Why do we believe the lies that if people only could see the "real" person behind all of the masks and faceds, that they would not like what they see?  I gently guided the ladies into a discussion of the different ways in which we hide our true selves.  The responses were varied:

Control/Manipulation - A lot of the women admitted that they resort to control and/or manipulation when they feel frustrated or threatened.  Many of us shared how we tend to want to control our children, expecting them to "do" things for us to make us feel in control and somehow better about ourselves.  We want to appear powerful so we do not have to admit that in and of ourselves we are powerless (without Christ, that is).  It's hard to admit, but if I am not careful, I am one who can tend to be controlling with those I love the most.

Indulgences - Some of the ladies shared that when they feel threatened or hurt, they escape or retreat into momentary indulgences, such as over eating, excessive shopping, losing herself in the TV set, daydreaming about her past, and what was once so good to her, or longing for the future. I can honestly say I've been here, in all of them, at least once in my life.  I still struggle in this area.

Closet Time - One lady was brave enough to admit that when she is hurt in her relationship, she will hide in her closet -- a real closet.  To her, it is a safe place where no one can find her.  I can't say that I've retreated in a closet before, but I do remember a day when I curled up in a ball in the corner of my bedroom and couldn't move in what seemed life forever.  I was totally overwhelmed with feelings and emotions that I didn't at the time know how to handle.

Some things to reflect on, huh?

I would like to end this post with another quote from the book, Captivating:

Given the way creation unfolds, how it builds to ever higher and higher works of art, can there be any doubt that Eve is the crown of creation?  Not an afterthought. Not a nice addition like an ornament on a tree.  She is God's final touch, his piece de resistance.  She fills a place in the world nothing and no one else can fill.  Step into a window, ladies, if you can. Better still, find some place with a view. Look out across the earth and say to yourselves, "The whole, vast world is incomplete without me.  Creation reached its zenith in me."

Leave me a comment and let me know if you did this and what it felt like!

Until next week and remember:  YOU ARE CAPTIVATING!