I have memories of my childhood walking home from Catholic school, always needing to stay alert for the Protestant bullies who would wait to attack us on our way home in the afternoons. Being the oldest in the family, I was the apparent target. As a good kid, I didn’t understand the behavior directed at me. Was it because I looked odd in my school uniform, or was it due to being a Catholic kid in the minority facing racist behavior? I didn’t know why they wanted to be so cruel to me!

When I read this passage a decade ago, it became clear that I had a long way to go before I truly understood. And why was “it” hidden in Christ? That is for later. My thesis statement is that for any of us to grasp our existence and what it truly means to be human, we must align ourselves with Christ and start there to get it right, or we risk being just another “lost” barbarian making tracks on planet Earth, ultimately dying without ever comprehending it at all.

In this common familial dynamic, the scapegoat takes on the responsibility for the character flaws of other members somewhat unconsciously. This enables the narcissistic family to project a façade of functionality and relational harmony to external observers. However, beneath this veneer lies emotional turmoil and the façade of pride that dictate their identities, resulting in persistent personal destruction. The scapegoated individual is a proxy for the family's transgressions, encapsulating their collective issues.

Despite our departure from the garden due to disobedience, God's love for us has never wavered. His efforts to engage with us and show us how much we mean to Him are a constant and unwavering presence in our lives, a source of security and cherished love.

Eleven Points to Consider

These Eleven are revolutionary stories and events that, if treated as valid historical moments in the history of this planet, will initiate a paradigm shift in how you think and process information for your benefit.

The Way, the Truth, the Life

In an earlier conversation today with a friend, I stated how we are neurologically compromised; we are clearly at a disadvantage as postmoderns. We are not doing well as a people, we Westerners. Our culture was created for us to influence the way we operate and behave.