Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,
And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.
Therefore in their land they shall possess double;
Everlasting joy shall be theirs. (Isaiah 61:7)

Looking down into a large, charcoal gray-toned, dimly lit, high-ceilinged, empty room, I see a man sitting on a low, plate-like, dark granite or marble object on the floor in the middle of the room. Both feet and his butt are close together on the surface of the circular object–approximately two feet in diameter–on which he barely fits. His arms are wrapped tightly around his legs, and he is trying to be as small as possible in order to fit on the plate. His head is down, with his face on his knees. The position of his head makes it clear that not only is he trying to be as small as possible to fit on the round object, but he also is trying to be as small as possible to hide or not be noticed.

I try to think of a word that captures what I’m viewing. The word that comes to mind is “shame.”

The plate object seems familiar to me, and I realize it is a pedestal to display art. The reason it was barely able to hold the man is because it was intended to be stood upon so that only his feet would be on it. The room is a museum exhibit area.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)