Gianna's choice

When the people of Judea rallied around Nehemiah to rebuild their walls, their choice was mixed. For many years, they had suffered ridicule and defeat from their enemies.

But with Nehemiah’s inspiring cry, they began to build. But they did so with swords strapped on, ready for battle. They choose not only to rebuild, but to resist the mockers.

I’ve been discussing the culture of shame this week, finding similarities between an ancient people and life choices of today.

I recently heard Gianna Jessen, an abortion survivor, speak about her life choices.

“I learned early on that I have not signed up for a mediocre life but an extraordinary one,” she said.

Gianna wasn’t expected to be born alive but she survived. She has overcome dire predictions from day 1 but it has not come without a price.

“From the moment of my conception, I have been loved or hated,” Gianna said.

She has more than her share of enemies and mockers, an amazing thing considering what she’s overcome. In our culture, we pretend to care for life but often we care for our own agenda.

“If abortion is about women’s rights,” Gianna commented, “then what about mine?” She only survived her birth because the abortionist had left the room when she was born. The nurse on duty called an ambulance and Gianna was rushed to intensive care.

“I will limp all the way to heaven because of someone else’s choice.”

Today, because her life defies some political agendas, she has been reviled and insulted by enemies trying to stop her from building a beautiful city of her life.

Gianna told the crowd, “If you let go and trust Jesus, you’ll go from surviving to thriving.”

When the people in Jerusalem were afraid of the encroaching enemies, Nehemiah rallied them with similar words: “Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight!” (Neh 4:14)

Walls in shambles

When Nehemiah (see yesterday’s post) learned that the walls of Jerusalem were ruined, he wasn’t as concerned with their military vulnerability as with their humiliation.

The ancients considered their city buildings the height of their accomplishments. The cities represented a civilized culture. So when the walls of Jerusalem were in shambles, the people were shamed by the chaotic rubble. Rather than a beautiful city, they were living in an ugly failure.

When Judea was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, more than just the best citizens were taken away. The hopes and dreams of a nation were stolen away as well.

Taunted by their neighbors, the residents of Jerusalem were disabled and unable to rebuild.

It took Nebuchadnezzar’s presence to inspire them to resist the mocking of their neighbors as they rebuilt their walls – and their hopes.

Gianna Jessen is a modern-day example. Born alive in spite of a saline abortion, she was unwanted by her parents. Cerebal palsy tore down the walls of her city, leaving her caretakers with a dire prediction: that she’d never walk. In fact, she wasn’t expected to amount to much of anything.

But, like Nehemiah, Gianna wasn’t content with the status quo. The walls were in ruin but something could be built.

Calling herself “a fighter and an overcomer,” Gianna walked at age 3. She has since run in two marathons and traveled the world speaking about her life.

But the mockers have not gone away.

“My introduction into life was fighting death,” Gianna said. “From the moment of my conception I have been loved or hated.”

In last fall’s election, she was labeled a vile liar by those who didn’t want to hear her story.

Gianna rebuilds her walls. Her body has been shelled by cerebal palsy – and perhaps more by hatred - but the mockers are not winning.

Tomorrow: Gianna’s choice

The culture of shame

The report didn’t contain much new but one description cast a definite shadow over the cupbearer and he mourned for days.

If you’ve read the early pages of Nehemiah, you know that the report concerned the city of Jerusalem which had been destroyed by the Babylonians over a hundred years before.

But that’s where I’m wrong, because the report didn’t concern the city but the people.

What brought Nehemiah to mourning and fasting was this news: “The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame.” (Neh 1:3)

Shame doesn’t pierce our culture like it did theirs. For an Israelite, shame alone could disable a community. In their culture, what happened to one happened to all and vice versa.

So shame immobilized an entire community.

Although the broken-down walls made the Jews vulnerable to attack, Nehemiah’s concern was with their shame. When he later traveled to Jerusalem from Persia to direct the rebuilding effort, the biggest hindrance was the enemies who dropped by to mock the builders.

When Nehemiah came to the inhabitants of Jerusalem with the plan for the wall, he said, “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we may no longer suffer disgrace.” (Neh 2:11)

Last weekend, I had the delight to hear a young woman speak about her life so far. Gianna Jessen is an abortion survivor, a young woman with “the gift of cerebral palsy” from her premature birth. “I’ve signed on for an extraordinary life,” she told the overflowing crowd.

Gianna met her birth mother three years ago. After hearing one of Gianna’s speeches, the woman told her, “You are an embarrassment to the family.”

This week I will explore the culture of shame and the wisdom of a young woman born in disgrace.

Tomorrow: Walls in shambles