Thorny. (Sermon Opener worth reading.) Written by: Daumonique Lenhardt

While preparing for this sermon, I found myself deeply moved by W.E.B. Du Bois' concept of double consciousness, as articulated in his seminal work, "The Souls of Black Folk." Du Bois describes this as the internal struggle African Americans face, having to view themselves both as Americans and as Black individuals in a society that discriminates against them.

James Baldwin poignantly captured this sentiment when he said, "To be a Negro in this country and be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time." This means that if you are truly aware, if you are genuinely living out a life in Christ, you will constantly feel a sense of anger towards marginalization and injustice because it permeates every aspect of society.

Du Bois and Baldwin highlighted the paradox of being gifted and yet devalued. You can achieve academic honors and prestigious degrees yet still have to fight for recognition beyond being seen only as 3/5th of a man.

Double consciousness underscores the importance of reconciling your self-identity so that it is not altered by societal perception. As believers in the gospel, I believe it is equally important that we reconcile our identity in Christ and understand who He says we are. Without this understanding, you may find yourself striving to prove your worth, rather than allowing God to demonstrate His finished work in you.

We must not take pride solely in our accomplishments, as there is no guarantee that our talents will open doors for us. However, if our efforts bring glory to God, we have fulfilled our purpose. Learning to operate amidst both success and adversity allows God's grace to manifest, making His name great through us.

Reflecting on this, I was led to 2 Corinthians 12, where Paul speaks of his thorn in the flesh. This compelled me to explore beyond the notion of Paul's thorn being merely a physical ailment.

This text, part of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, provides a story of humility. Paul dedicated a section of his letter to address his critics, clarifying that he was not dishonest or seeking wealth through ministry. He was an apostle, anointed by God to establish churches based on godly principles. Isn't it just like people to criticize you for following God's direction because they do not understand?

Perhaps Paul was illustrating what it means to operate in a spiritual double consciousness—being gifted yet afflicted, accepted yet rejected. This duality allows the power of grace to shine through adversity.

Whenever you are anointed, there will come times when you also feel annoyed—gifted, yet tormented; called, yet crushed.

Why does God allow friction in this double consciousness? To protect the investment He made in creating the rose, He may attach thorns to preserve its beauty, even from itself.

The purpose of the thorn, as it relates to a rose, is to protect it from being devoured by large mammals attracted to its sweet fragrance. Similarly, the thorn reminds us of our humanity. No matter how high God elevates us, we remain human, and the devil continues to pursue us. The thorn serves as an anchor.