Free Yourself, Be Yourself by Alan D. Wright

Author:Alan D. Wright [Wright, Alan D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56326-2
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2010-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Why Me?

Ever feel like someone else’s scapegoat? Consider the sequence of events for the second goat on the Hebrew Day of Atonement. It might be painful, but look for yourself in the drama.

“He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.” (Leviticus 16:8)

It seems so arbitrary, doesn’t it? How was it decided that you’d be a scapegoat? Doesn’t make sense, does it? It’s because it isn’t about you—it’s about others’ needs to put their shame on you.

Perhaps the greatest, best-loved cartoon of all time is the late Charles Schultz’ “Peanuts.” It is, essentially, the continuing saga of a scapegoat. A boy with a zigzagged shirt named Charlie Brown serves as the object of all the kids’ scorn and shame. “You’re a blockhead, Charlie Brown.” Charlie Brown has fully internalized the shame and, though managing his way through life, is essentially depressed and fully expects life to turn out sour at every turn.

But why Charlie Brown? In actuality, he’s a likeable fellow who seems at least as bright as the rest of the characters. Even when he gets the spindly little Christmas tree for the Christmas play, there is something endearing about his heart for the underdog. Charlie Brown is the scapegoat not because he is dumber, less gifted, or less likeable. He’s the scapegoat for only one discernable reason: The other kids decided so. The simple fact that the whole Peanuts gang agrees to put down, pick on, and blame Charlie Brown makes him the scapegoat.

Why are you being made a scapegoat?

Because you are there.

It’s nothing more than the casting of lots. Will you please reconsider whether you are supposed to be bearing the shame of the gang? Could it be that there really is no reason at all for you to be bearing the brunt of someone else’s shame? Isn’t it possible that it’s just a matter of convenience? Others feel ashamed of their deep inadequacies and there you are. You’re no more deserving of the role of scapegoat than anyone else. You’re just … available.

There is nothing inherent within the Hebrew scapegoat that makes it the scapegoat! It’s just an ordinary goat upon whom the lot fell. Why some despised racial minority in America? Why the Jews in Hitler’s Germany? No reason. Nothing inherent in them at all. Just the power of a gang to cast the lot and name a scapegoat.

“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites … and put them on the goat’s head.” (Leviticus 16:21)

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