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| [Photo from Animal Planet] |
I was "skunked" in my
dream, and maybe in my real life too.
There was a man named Skunk. Apparently
for some reason, that really didn't involve me but had more to do with protecting
himself by redirecting suspicion, he had registered my name and entered
slanderous rumors about me in a validity database. The original intent of this
database was for the proper authorities to privately approve or deny any claims
submitted. Unfortunately for many, soon after Skunk's entry, the database project
was dropped and all the open cases were declassified, unprotected and available
for public viewing. People swarmed the database considering it to be a new
authority on dirty laundry. Entries were unable to be deleted, unable to be
refuted, unable to be defended. No recourse, no recovery, no reason. I had been
"skunked."
Have you ever been
"skunked?" I've been feeling skunked lately. Thus the dream, I guess.
However, this dream really made me think about how I should be responding to being skunked. I did a
little research on skunks to help me think it through. Two main themes that
stood out. 1) A skunk is really a pacifist. It just wants to be left alone. If
it feels threatened, it will give multiple warnings. Only if those warnings go
unheeded, it will spray. 2) Something stinks in my life.
In the dream, I was the one "sprayed"
by Skunk. It was not because of me,
but I suffered the consequences. A spray is a protection. The skunk's desire to
live within his own shelter. I could have been sprayed because of a perceived threat by Skunk, but I will
suffer whether the threat was intentional or not, real or not, because I did
not notice the warnings, or recognize them as warnings. Perhaps my reputation
will suffer. Or maybe my confidence. But now, "something
stinks" in my life.
But what has changed? It is only other
people's perception of me that has changed. It's not my perception of me
(unless I take it on). God's perception of me definitely has not changed.
In its most basic reality, this skunking is just a tiny bit of
misunderstanding. Maybe more from some people than others, but nonetheless,
just misunderstanding. And misunderstanding is really nothing personal, nothing
malicious.
I realize that in my life (vs. the
dream) I have been taking on this "skunking" as persecution. Persecution
being an ill-treatment, or an actual "acting out" of a desire to
"put down" the person. Persecution?! Get over myself! Just because
someone doesn't "get" me, or is misinformed about me, does not keep me from having confidence and
faith. Misunderstanding is just that. Someone's understanding misses the mark
of reality.
And then, I have been taking this perceived persecution as a righteous reason to be angry. Angry?!
Another step in the wrong direction. If I was
indeed being persecuted, I should be counting it a blessing to be worthy of it. You see, I believe that those who stand
firm in their faith, and truly desire to live a Godly life, will suffer
persecution. So, as I said, if it really is
persecution, I should be taking it as affirmation of my faith, not be angry at
those doing the persecuting.
I've been skunked.
Not the first
time. Probably not the last.
I have decided
to respond with "Oh well!"
