No Shame November

Burt Reynolds, Tom Selleck, Wyatt Earp, Nick Offerman, maybe Forrest Frank?

Just a small sample of iconic, recognizable mustaches.  But their image, for better or worse, has stuck with us over the years.  You have probably also heard of the “No-Shave November” movement which typically encourages participants to grow out all hair (beards, mustaches, or even just skipping shaving for women) to raise funds primarily for cancer research and education.  And specific to the men, Movember, involves growing only a mustache to raise awareness and funds for broader men's health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's mental health and suicide prevention.

This is the movement I want to piggyback off of.  Speaking into the unspoken (but not unknown) struggle of pornography, lust, objectification, and in some cases a diagnosable sex addiction.  You do not need to struggle alone!  This is not a battle that will be won without teammates.  I propose to you No Shame November.

Even as I pondered how to write this post, I listened to Andrew Arndt preached on this text from Ephesians 5:

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is an MO from God I am familiar with: bringing me hints or glimpses of ideas, and then offering up tangible confirmation of the message he is intending… There is plenty to unpack here and lots of different directions this conversation can go - many of which I have had the pleasure of experiencing during my Recovery journey of the last 9+ years:

Shame only lives in the dark, 

shame cannot live in the light, 

we are broken so God’s light can shine through us, 

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16), 

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

Another reference Andrew gave on Sunday was the word of the Lord from Isaiah:

“‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, as the saying goes, this is your sign.  You are not alone. You do not need to stay stuck. There is No Shame in asking for help or accountability, or a friend to attend group with.  You can reach out anonymously by texting 323-794-7366 for information on groups, 12-step material, and 1-on-1 coaching.  If you want to reach out for specific help or set up a free consultation for coaching, use this Google Form.