Ending the Blame, Facing the Shame

Ending the Blame, Facing the Shame

A student took me to a brilliantly done play called The Face of Shame. The author and main character, Dr. Darrell Gantt was telling his own story…and those of others—some in his family and some not.

The blend of stand-up comedy, rap, film clip backdrops, some tasteful moments of nudity, and powerful music was flawlessly threaded through the blossoming stories that had a commonality of reactions to shame. Especially riveting, Tina Zucchero’s performance as the author’s sister—victim of abuse by their mother. In a Capra-esque outcome, the girl grown to woman is helped, as was the real woman, by a ritual of love to come to self-acceptance and forgiveness.

Sadly, I can’t send you to see this dynamic play. Doing fabulous plays is not really what Dr. Gantt is all about. Overcoming the Power of Shame is the name of his transformative workshop, and that, is where those who need help coming out of the darkness can receive it.

“Shame lives in the dark—waits in the dark; it metastasizes in the dark and takes on a life of its own.” Darrell Gantt

With numerous religious and theological degrees, Gantt specializes in pastoral counseling.

The workshop is Saturday, February 7th from 9 am to 4 pm. If you are or you know anyone who is in need of some shame relief, go to http://www.thefaceofshame.com for more information or to register.

The six-hour workshop is humanely priced at $79.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function above.