The Landers took it in stride. They are friends to this day. But that night, just before bed, I remember the evening's escapade. A wave, a physical sensation of shame swept over me. Three distinct waves of shame, beginning at the head and moving to my feet.
Shame is a powerful thing.
We feel it for things we do and don't do, for things we say and don't say. But worse, we feel it for who we are. Maybe it helps for some things, but it doesn't touch shame. Shame is a symptom of our separation from God. It's what the first humans felt when they declared their independence from God.