I just read somewhere down the line where a comment was made about worrying what others might think. I wanted to post it here so I won't post under the original writer, don't want to upset anyone. This is not about the writer, just an observation that was brought to mind.

"I am afraid of what others might think". I run into that all the time. Even my mother is always afraid of "what others might think".

Here is my view on that. (This is meant as an observation and from my own "thinkin", not an evaluation of your thinking).

I'll break down the following sentence:
"I am afraid of what others might think"

I The self talk. Me. It's all about me. Tends to be selfish in thinking.

am afraid Fear. Not courage. Love overcomes fear. Adam and Eve hid because they were afraid. They hid from God, not man. Fear separates us from God.

of what (?) What? I don't know. I can't see it. Uncertainty. the Not Knowing. What? An unseen enemy? Satan? God? Paranoia setting in? This sounds again like Adam and Eve. Adam started showing signs of paranoia (God and Eve out to get him) "The woman you made for me, (an accusation) she gave to me and I did eat. Your fault for making her, her fault for giving it to me. You two conspired against me. What? At this point, it doesn't matter does it?

Others Who? Again, it doesn't matter. Your neighbor whom you should be loving as much as yourself. Those who should have been forgiven, but you cannot take a chance. Again, the unkown enemy, so you say "others" as if in "the committee of They". "They" or "Others" have power over you. You willingly gave it to them. Not to God, but to the "Others", whoever it may be. Enemy, Friend, Family, or those you have not met. Un-named.

Might Not really, just "might". 50/50, 60/40, even 99 to 1. It's that 1 you are afraid of. Not the 99. Did the Shephered of Jesus' story not leave the 99 to save the one? But we are afraid of that One. Might, not sure, maybe, maybe not, but "They" just might! Cannot take that chance.

Think. Not do. Think. How does one think affect our do? This is not that they will say or do, this is stopped at the idea that "They" "Might" "Think".

Here is the problem with the above statements when put together:

Selfish me, myself and I, the three of us, (paranoia) have so little love for our neighbors that [we] are fearful of the imagined possible, but not probable thoughts of others. We actually think that our neighbors even take the time out of their busy schedule and problems of their own life to think about us, let alone bad thoughts. In fact, we decided that our neighbors think bad thoughts. Especially about me, or should I say "Us". I, me, myself, have so little consideration for our neighbor that [we] actually believe our neighbors are even littler than us.

When we think about what we are thinking, we can scare ourselves a bit. Thinking is a very powerful tool. A book I would recommend to anyone here is "The Magic of Thinking Big". I don't remember the author, but you can see this in most, if not all major book stores in the "Positive Thinking" section, usually near the business sections.

Our thoughts can get in our way. It can immagine horrible and fantastic things. Steven King plays on that. Fear is more immagined than real, therefor we fear even the stories told, though they are not true.

We do what we call "Self Talk". Our brains are working all the time, even while we are asleep. Many wonder how I can just walk outside nude and not get too worried. I really do worry some, I look around, watch my surroundings and not allow myself to get caught...or so I think. Yet at the same time, I am relaxed and enjoying my time outdoors nude without fear. How?

I have sat there (and sometimes early in the morning when my brain is the most relaxed, while nude (sleep nude of course) and start to immagine myself walking out the door nude. The neighbors are around. I walk out doors, in the yard, and walk to the mail box (this is in my mind). I am (not might) nude all the time (still in my bed immagining). I feel the air, the openess, the eyes looking at me, the ground I walk on, the tree I lean against or the steps I walk down. I am fully aware of the people around me, as I get in the car, crank it up and drive out through the neighborhood and into town. I get out of the car, shut the door and walk to the building (any building of your choice). I say hi to those around me or just move on as usual. I am ignoring my nakedness, yet know I am nude. I can walk down the street from my house and talk to my neighbors.

Again, these immagined thoughts are felt while I am still in bed, relaxed, my subconcious feeling these things. Here is the irony. The subconcious mind thinks I am really doing these things!!! Your subconcious has no idea of what is true or false! That is why fear is so real to us. Our subconcious thinks it is real. In fact, it is real!!! So you can be nude anywhere you want to be and your subconcious can believe it to be 100% true to the point where it says "OK, I believe, I can no longer hold you back! You win!"

Close your eyes, relax, nude, early in the morning, and take a nice long walk in your mind. Your body and mind will feel it as if you were actually doing it! And your mind will record the experience as if for real. You did it!!

But of course, we, our surface mind knows the real story, but don't tell your subconcious that!!!

Do this several times over a period of time. It may take only five minutes or 30 minutes. It doesn't matter.

And don't worry what the neighbors might think, just believe your story and stick to it!

That is my story and I'll stick to it,

Boyd "Think Nude and Prosper" Allen

Here is something along the same lines that I have been working on in my life.

When we spend all our time listening to the inner dialog of our mind, we often get carried away with what “might” happen. The problem is, we have missed the opportunity to experience what really is happening. How many times a day do we realize that we have no idea what has transpired in the last fifteen minutes, half and hour, or longer. To be fully aware of what we are doing and our surroundings allows us to celebrate the life that God gives us. Jesus said he came to give us life in abundance. How can we have that life if we are not aware of it and miss most of it?

I have been using my nude times to help me be aware. As stated, our skin in the largest sensory organ we have. What better way to be mindful of what we are doing, the world around us, and what God has to say to us? If we are fully aware, then we have no time to worry about what others might think. We are also aware of when it is appropriate to be dressed and when we can have our freedom.

To me, nudity is not just about letting it all hang out; it is about being in the state that God created us in. In this way I am more able to hear the Spirit. It is spiritual, not earthly. That does not mean I do not enjoy the sun and the wind, it only means that to enjoy those things is to enjoy my Lord.

Nakedspirit

Our preacher told about a survey of what people thought of folks inviting them to worship services.

The survey showed that only 5% would actually not like it (and they were all over 50, strangely).

Bet there's a similar low percentage of folks who are actually affronted by nudity.

The BIGGEST bugaboo in our society is people's attitudes about exposure of nudity to the oppostie sex and to kids. It's just a taboo in our society that has developed over the centuries. There is NO basis whatsoever to sexual division or kid division regarding anyone seeing anyone naked in the Bible. I think a lot of our taboo developed from the very sorry translation in Leviticus 18 in the KJV about "not uncovering the nakedness of...". I'll bet the taboo developed from people mistranslating this in their minds.

Ralph
The naked gardener
God's original intent

That was not a mistranslation. That was deliberate because the readers (King James Clergy of the time) told them it was not appropriate to talk about sex directly in the bible. So they watered it down by saying "Uncover the nakedness of..." instead of "sexual relations".

That is why they also translated the sex act into "knew" as in "Adam knew Eve and had a son".

I know of people to this day that says the King James bible is the most accurate translation in the world! In spite of the fact that earlier documents and letters were found that were more accurate than the 600 year old documents they [mis]translated it from.

But even then, if it were accurate in transliteration, it is still misunderstood by its true meaning and intent, which, unfortunatly, creates the freedom of individual interpretation by the reader.

Boyd "As interpretated by" Allen

In (I think it is) Ezekiel, we can read in modern translations about some women lusting after men hung like a horse. Never did read that in KJV either. It's a horrible translation.

Ralph
The naked gardener
God's original intent

The KJV's translation may be inadequate for us today, but back then it was more than adequate. The intention is clear. To uncover someone else's nakedness is an inapproriate action if that person isn't your spouse. Consider undressing your mother or father for the sole purpose of being able to see their naked bodies. It's inappropriate. considerably! But seeing them naked because they undressed themselves for the sole purpose of being nude is a completely different intention. I undressed and dressed many older people because they were too weak to care for themselves. I never uncovered any of them just so I could look at their nakedness. I uncover my hubby because I want to see his nakedness all the time... :^D Different intentions all together.

Does this mean that you and your husband have come back together (I hope, I hope)?

God Bless
Kevin

Matt and I are back together again. I wrote about it on my journal but I thought I had written about it here, too...?

Anyhoo, go to http://ahtelluwat.lifewithchrist.org to find out all the details. Basically, he came to the sudden realization that he had made a big mistake. Now it's like there never was a problem to begin with. I'm not naive enough to think we're problem free. But, I know he's committed to me and I'm committed to him regardless. Praise God for all His tender mercies, eh?

Fantastic news!!! Myra and I have both been praying for you both, and I am very happy at this news.

I don't believe that you have written about what happened here. If you did I missed it, and Myra likes to tell me I don't miss much (recent forum events not withstanding).


No offense, but I have only a certain amount of time I am willing to spend on-line, and haven't made it to your site but once or twice. I'll try to do better, I promise!!

Anyway, Great news!!

God Bless
Kevin and Myra

I agree with that view and it is written in my articles that there is a difference between uncovering other peoples nakedness versus being physically nude.

But other translations do carry the full intent and render it "having sex with" or "sexual ralations".

Boyd

Yes, I think it was needed to make the translation clearer. But, for the sake of clarification for those who are "liberated", even undressing someone with one's eyes is lust if it ain't one's spouse.

Spiritually or mentally undressing people for sexual gratification is still the same.

Boyd