TUESDAY THOUGHTS: VULNERABILITY

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” 

~Ephesians 6:10-13

Why does it usually take tragedy, loss, or, some dilemma to make us pay attention to, and secure vulnerable areas? 

Have you ever noticed the traffic signals that miraculously appear after someone has been hit by a car? 

The metal detectors that are installed after a weapon has been spotted or used? 

The safety seals that are applied to products after someone has been poisoned? 

The potholes that are filled in after a vehicle’s front end is mangled and tires are blown? 

The labeling of ingredients after someone has had an allergic reaction? 

The leash laws, and bans on ownership of certain pets after someone has been mauled? 

The gates installed around backyard pools after someone has drowned? 

The smoke detectors replaced after someone has perished in a fire? 

The protective gear deemed mandatory after someone has ended up in traction? The standards established after children have failed miserably in school?

The extra police presence following a mass shooting?

We shake our heads, declare something a crying shame, then quickly go back to our usual routines, because we don’t believe that the misfortune that visited someone else can also happen to us--or those close to us. 

We often ignore recall notices, consumer alerts, news bulletins, warning labels, and safety instructions. We toss out owners’ manuals and printed directions because we don’t think we’ll need them. We think warranties are just a rip-off, and a waste of money. 

We often give way to a false sense of security. Sometimes we’re just careless. Five minutes out of someone’s day to replace a battery, or five dollars spent for some little device could have been the difference between life and death. 

Sometimes we just don’t see the necessity, or are just too stubborn or apathetic to put safeguards in place, so that destructive forces in our lives can be rendered powerless. From the day we’re born, our well-being is threatened. Some threats are obvious. Others are more subtle. I think if we knew about some of the things from which God has protected us, we’d probably pass out from the sheer horror of it.

Is it really necessary to know everything? 

Often times, information about potentially dangerous people or circumstances is purposely withheld from us to keep us from reacting impulsively, panicking, or living in a state of anxiety or inactivity. 

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Philippians 4:6-7 :
"Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".

You might consider this passage in direct contradiction to the passage in Ephesians 6, and ask, “If I’m not supposed to worry about anything, can’t I just skip the whole armor thing? Won’t God just automatically take care of me? Why on earth do I need to suit up?” Those might be valid questions, but I figure if I would just take God’s word for it, make the effort to suit up, and suit up properly, I wouldn’t have to worry. Too often though, I think I must have gone out with my helmet on my knee, my breastplate on my elbow, my feet shod with something from DSW, and my sword was left on the backseat of the car.

No wonder I was a sitting duck. I guess at different times in my life I could have been the poster girl for shooting fish in a barrel. Sometimes we don’t even make the enemy have to work hard. We leave ourselves totally exposed and assist him in our own defeat. No, God doesn’t want us to worry ourselves sick, but he does want us to do something. Sure, the weapons that are formed against me aren’t going to prosper, but I don’t have to help my enemy along by making myself an easy target. No matter what our dimensions, we humans are very fragile beings. God didn’t tell us to go spend the day jogging across a two-lane highway to prove He won’t let us get reduced to a greasy spot on the road. God is God, but a truck, of any size, barreling down a highway at 65 MPH deserves a little respect, too- especially if you don’t know who’s driving.

Would we be less vulnerable if we’d just take the time to do things the right way? Why is it often hard to use things for their intended purposes, and follow directions? Why do we dance with danger, ignore wisdom and common sense, and forget that the forces we’re up against have strategies too? Do we think we’re immune to attack? Are we overly confident and self-righteous? Are adversity, sudden change, affliction, trouble, problems, challenges and the like, just for other people? Can we afford to be carefree, uncovered; oblivious to our weaknesses, and confident in our own might? Is it faithless to recognize our own vulnerability, and are there consequences when we pretend it doesn’t exist?

I knew a young lady who used to be so obsessed with her appearance that it bordered on a dangerous mixture of conceit and vainglory. She was always telling others how they should dress, which upscale stores to shop in, which jewelry was in fashion, what scents they should purchase, how often they should work out, what foods to eat or not eat, and what hairstyle, salon, or line of cosmetics was the best. Her sense of style was impressive but her demeanor was awful. From her neatly coiffed hair, plucked brows, flawless skin, bejeweled neck, tailored clothing, figure courtesy of Bally’s, expensive hose, and fancy pedicure to her designer shoes, she was fabulously put together, but she had no compassion or patience for any woman who failed to achieve and maintain the same.
Fast forward.
Life, as it inevitably does, showed up with its trademark curve ball, and this same young woman was in no way prepared when it hit her. The superficial uniform and gear she depended on so much, and that always got her over in the past, hardly covered her when the real game started. Almost overnight she was no longer teetering between her usual size 6 or 8. She joined the rest of us at “The Lane”. Her comments toward others became far less negative, abrasive, and opinionated. Then they stopped altogether. She began to look like the very women she used to so harshly ridicule and criticize. She so drastically changed that she was almost unrecognizable.

Her vulnerability to excessive weight gain was the last thing she ever thought she’d have to guard against, and her underlying fear of it was exposed by the way she pronounced judgment on others. What she didn’t give attention to was something lying dormant in her own DNA- like a silent computer virus. Before she knew it, her problem went from cosmetic to medical.

Isn’t it amazing how we point out the weaknesses in others, and proudly declare what we’ll never do, say, become, face, put up with, condone, or allow? While we’re focused on others, though, are we keenly aware of our own vulnerabilities? What do we do about them? Acknowledge them? Flirt with them? Deny them? Hide them? Ignore them? Guard them? What if you just don’t know? What if there’s never been any evidence of susceptibility? Do you invest in security just in case?

VULNERABILITY- susceptibility to attack; capability of being wounded or hurt; susceptibility to physical or emotional injury; susceptibility to criticism or persuasion or temptation.

When I searched for an adequate definition of “vulnerability”, I was so sure I would see more links that leaned toward the emotional, the psychological, or the spiritual. Over and over, however, the word “vulnerability” was mentioned in relation to all things technological. The term is critical in the land of network computing. Vulnerability is a huge issue. Apparently, there are dangers lurking from remote, unknown sources. Something or someone is out there poised to steal, kill and destroy computer systems, cost consumers and corporations millions of dollars, and bring everyone’s productivity to a screeching halt. New threats to system integrity are reported each day. Viruses with fancy names, living and multiplying in seemingly harmless files and e-mails, affect users all over the globe- often without their knowledge. Before many users recognize the invasion, it’s too late, and there’s nothing even the most savvy computer geek can do to fix it. Fortunately, there are all kinds of software available to combat those who have nothing better to do than upset the business and personal computing lives of others. Serious risks abound, and left brained individuals have created various ingenious methods to weed out and protect the vulnerability of computer systems- if users would just recognize they need them and employ them.
I found out that the vulnerability of a network system can be: Critical, investigated, identified, reported, scanned for, detailed for educational and defensive purposes, disclosed, assessed, maliciously exploited, found and fixed, discovered, managed, overrun, and eliminated. Technicians work day and night to assure the performance, and security of an important, revolutionary, yet inanimate object.
Now what about you, fellow human being? How protected are you? Are any efforts going on around the clock to assure that you’re functioning properly? Are there areas in your life that are not currently shielded by some form of security? Are your levels set at the maximum protection? Are you utilizing the most effective methods? I'm not talking about your ADT System, your Sanford and Son-inspired triple dead bolt locks, or your tape recording of a rabid German shepherd, which plays every time someone rings your doorbell. I'm not talking about your public smile, false bravado, can of mace, pepper spray, or even the new moves you learned in the self-defense class that the Willing Workers Club sponsored in the basement of your church. We all have personal vulnerable areas that need adequate covering. Have you identified yours? The 23rd verse of Proverbs 4, instructs us to keep or guard our hearts “with all diligence”. There’s a darn good reason. The success or failure of issues in our lives depend on how effectively we secure, and care for that very small, but powerful organ. Not even the intricate and fascinating brain can function if the heart stops. Most of us start out with a perfectly formed, and working heart. Years of abuse, carelessness, mistreatment, and undue stress can take a huge toll. Like a computer’s hard drive, our hearts are susceptible to attack if we’re not extremely vigilant. Vulnerable areas demand the best protection available. And no security system, state of the art or otherwise, will work if it’s not turned on. Just putting the sticker in the window doesn’t fool anybody either.

Even the toughest, and most self-assured among us are walking around with something that can be easily seen and exploited. There's something going on in each of our lives that, if exposed, would threaten to shut us down- just like a virus-infected PC. There are things designed to cause you to stop running at your greatest potential. There are things that leave you sluggish, inflexible, overwhelmed, unable to take direction, unclear about procedures, mistrustful of commands, and slow to respond. There are things that cause your attempt at even the simplest of tasks to appear utterly impossible. There are things that force us to lose massive blocks of time, exert energy that could have been channeled into something more productive, and spend resources that would have benefited more worthy causes. There are things that make you want to trash it all, write it off as a loss, and start all over. What if we had some device (like the CD ROM that comes with our personal computers), which would, in a few minutes, take us back to our original factory configuration? Something that could make us like brand new- untouched, unscathed, unscarred, unbroken, healthy, and whole. What if we could erase the "viruses" that have infected our lives, delete all the unnecessary junk we've added, wipe out all of the files that other people overloaded, purge the things we became addicted to, and eliminate the seemingly harmless stuff that almost killed us? What if, with one command, our lives could replicate the newness and promise of a brand new system that’s sleeker, smarter, faster, more efficient, and full of room for more wholesome, helpful, and safe activities, experiences, and people? What if this time, we’d remember to install the shields, and blockers, and scanners, and security systems before we started to really explore?

That sounds like a plan. It’s possible. Most internet providers offer Spam blockers, firewalls, pop up blockers, virus scanners and a few other security features, because the companies know, as much as they advertise the superiority of their products, even theirs aren’t immune from attack. As much as we boast about our saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, fearfully and wonderfully made selves, we’re still vulnerable if we don’t take advantage of the security God provides. In and of ourselves, we are no matches for the enemy. The first thing he does, when he opens the game, is tear up the rules and make up new ones. We can’t rely on our finances, intellect, stature, or strength when dealing with an element that’s determined to shut us down. Bigger and Badder just hit the deck harder if they have no strategy, and aren’t properly protected. It’s too late run for the weapon when the burglar is already in the house and sitting in the rocking chair at the foot of the bed. We have to have protective systems in place and a really great back up plan to ward off any dangerous intrusion before it gets to our neighborhood let alone our front door. Don’t you get tickled when you see some person from an affluent neighborhood being interviewed about some heinous crime? “I can’t believe it. Nothing like that ever happens around here. It’s always so quiet. We moved here to get away from the violence in the city. This is very upsetting. I guess you’re just not safe anywhere…”

Be encouraged. There’s no need to become a hermit and relocate to some deserted island. Help is here. We’ve got access to the whole armor of God- specifically designed to cover everything that’s vulnerable. It’s up to us to put it on, piece by piece, and according to instructions. It’s not going to magically jump up and wrap itself around us like some cartoon superhero costume. In addition, we’ve got Goodness and Mercy bringing up the rear so we don’t catch cold back there. David said, “surely” they’ll follow. That’s reassuring, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of them. For added protection, we have ministering angels who have been appointed for life (so they can’t be laid off or fired), working overtime to make sure we don’t trip over our own shoestrings.
That whole “foot dashing” thing became painfully real a few years ago when I broke the baby toe on my left foot. I know. TMI. But I do have a point. I wasn’t wearing shoes. I wasn’t paying attention. I was in a hurry. The rest of me had cleared the doorway. My toe wasn’t so fortunate. Long story short- there’s no cast, no sling, no x-ray, and no surgery- nothing for the baby of the toes. When it breaks, it leaves you incapacitated for a couple of weeks with ice, Tylenol, and several carefully propped pillows as your new best friends. Every organ, bone and nerve in my body had to bow down and recognize that it was all about the baby toe. The tiniest member, unprotected, can temporarily bring down the rest of the body, drastically affect your mobility, and- the most tragic, heart-wrenching consequence of all- separate you from the most wonderful of your footwear collection. I know my angels were on duty that day. Maybe I needed the rest, and time to read and study.

To wrap up our spiritual anti-virus protection package, Jesus promised a nice big Comforter, to envelop, keep, guide and lead us into all truth. All of this protection for the extraordinary, incalculable price of the blood of Jesus. We pay nothing. Not even shipping and handling. It’s not cheap, but it’s available free of charge if we want it. Nobody is calling you a punk, but do you want to just admit you’re vulnerable sometimes, and need the protection of God? If not, go on with your bad self and take your chances with the viruses of this life. If you change your mind in time though, God’s offer is always available. Just don’t dawdle. Take just a moment and install John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Acknowledge Jesus. Believe with all of your heart that God raised him from the dead, and endowed him with all power. Receive your salvation. Accept its present eternal protection. It really is nice to know that, even in the face of vulnerability, we have safeguards and promises in the Word of God that can keep us running smoothly and safely for a long, long time.