Editor's note:  I actually wrote this the week before the Harvey Weinstein scandal.  It was accidentally prophetic :).  I do not write on current topics, but this was something God had initiated and it was His timing.  I hope it will be an encouragement.

There is a principal in Economics called unintended consequences.  The economist asks what might come from this policy or action that brings unwelcome or unexpected events.  It's why more economists should be legislators! Last spring, I was practicing silence in the poustinia (prayer closet) and I just asked God, "What, Lord" instead of telling Him what I think we should be doing in there or thinking about... He surprised me by leading me to forgiveness of a person I haven't thought of in years.  His name is Ty and he was a petty bully at work. I worked at the Capitol in Texas and yes, I was the only hippie among fraternity and sorority guys and gals. For four hours a day, I would put on my preppie and go to work for the leaders of Texas.  It sharpened me to no end to be around people that did not think like me.  I am grateful now.  I actually liked most people there and they tolerated me and seemed to even enjoy me.  Ty, however, was a pest.  Then, one day, he came up behind me (AT WORK!), pulled the back of my shirt and looked down and commented on my undergarments.  I was deeply humiliated and shocked.  I almost didn't say anything, because as a young female, we can be accused of overreacting.  But, I thought he should be held accountable. So, I reported him and the boss dealt with him. Ty was humbled, appropriately.  We like to brush small incidents like that under the rug.  It's all good, right?  But, God interrupted my daily thoughts all these years later and showed me that I had shame in my heart from that small incident.  He led me to forgive Ty, because in my heart I still thought of him as a worthless piece of trash and not worth my thoughts.  That attitude was still there, 20 years later.  So, as I blessed Ty, wherever he is (honestly, I imagine him in jail at first), I became free.  He healed me of shame that was coating my heart and skewing my view of Him, myself and people.  So, about those untended consequences?  I remembered a conversation with my hairdresser that all the sexual harassment talk about Trump during the election had brought out many conversations with her clients of small and big incidents of women putting up with sexual harassment.  We both agreed that Trump has accidentally started a national conversation for sexual harassment and that healing can happen as women share and as men are made aware of their own actions. I am totally humbled and moved that as I make time for God and ask Him, "what, Lord?", He has compassion and love and is willing to show me things I didn't even know about myself.  We carry these small shames and offenses and God will free us of them.  Our nation is reeling from a tragedy and I do think it matters that we care for each other and forgive and seek God in these times.  

Father, we don't understand your ways or your timing.  We forget to come to you for big and small cares.  But, you never forget and you are always willing to give to us all of you in our times of need. Thank you for your compassion and your Presence.  Give us courage to seek you and to listen to each other. Thank you, that you covered Adam and Eve in their shame and you are still in the business of covering our shame and actually removing it.  Amen.