The Unkindest Cut

A haircut. That’s all it took.

And gone was the remarkable and incredible strength.

Once a young lion came roaring against Samson. But he tore the lion apart effortlessly with his bare hands. On another occasion, he went to Ashkelon and struck down 30 men, just for their tunics and robes. Consequently, on a midnight foray to Gaza and with a quirky sense of humour, he took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two door posts and tore them away with the bolt and carried them to the top of the hill opposite Hebron. And walked out of their trap. Slick.

Supernatural might. But once lost, he was pathetic. Captured by the Philistines who gouged out his eyes, he was left to do grinding as his new occupation. You can’t blame his enemies though – Samson loved to flirt with danger. Final verdict? He lost. Mostly, he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. (Judges 16:20)

Samson was dedicated to God as a Nazirite and was blessed with extraordinary strength as long as he obeyed certain vows, including not cutting his hair. However, Samson's repeated disregard for warnings and his infatuation with Delilah led him to ultimately disclose the secret of his strength. Despite clear evidence that Delilah intended to betray him, Samson deceived himself into believing he could handle the situation and ignored the danger. His downfall was attributed not just to Delilah’s betrayal, but to his own self-deception and willful disregard of God’s warnings – a form of self-betrayal that led to his tragic end.

Betrayal is often thought of in the context of an unexpected and unkind “let down” perpetrated by others. Someone who should have stood by you remained (figuratively) seated instead. Or, could not be counted on when the moment called for a clear-cut show of identity and support.

But self-betrayal is something else. You do it to yourself! D-I-Y gone awry? No one else to be blamed.

“Signs you might be in a pattern of self-betrayal include saying “yes” when you want to say “no,”

Any early indicators? Megan Johnson wrote: “Signs you might be in a pattern of self-betrayal include saying “yes” when you want to say “no,” self-sabotaging, ignoring basic needs and self-care, lying to yourself, not taking accountability for your actions, and pretending to be something other than your authentic self.”

Which brings us to the story of the artist.

Lena, a talented painter, famous in her town for vibrant landscapes and portraits that seemed almost alive, dreamed of hosting her own exhibition. Despite lucrative offers, she remained dedicated to her vision, working tirelessly in her attic studio.

One spring, she was offered a big commission to paint trendy abstract pieces for a hotel. The pay would cover her rent for years, but she would have to put aside her beloved exhibition for at least a year. Lena hesitated. She told herself, “Just this once. I need the money.” Promising herself it was temporary, she packed away her favorite portraits and started painting the profitable abstracts. The work consumed her time and energy, and she drifted from the places and subjects that once inspired her. As months passed, her passion waned, and her art lost its authenticity.

Friends noticed, but she dismissed their concerns, though privately she felt a deep sadness. When the hotel no longer needed her work, Lena returned to her attic, only to find her creative spark had dimmed. The joyful, driven artist she once was seemed lost. She came to understand she had not just sacrificed a dream but betrayed her true self.

Self-betrayal happens not when others turn against us, but when we abandon our own values and compromise our goals. Self-forgiveness may be the first step to recovery. A good healing start. To borrow a local expression – "might as well”. Meanwhile, keep your hair on.

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What's inside this latest issue?

VOL. 49 NO. 6 of IMPACT Magazine

HI, WOULD YOU BE MY WORLD-FRIEND?

By Dev Menon

BACKSTABBER'S SWORD

By Glenn Myers

WHEN SPIRITUAL LEADERS FALL

By Robert Solomon

EVERYTHING STARTS WITH TRUST

Two Contributions

THE SERPENT'S BITE

Two Contributions

DESPICABLE DECEPTION

~ The Impact Panel Responds ~

WHY STILL FOLLOW CHRIST?

By Meera Mahadevan

BACKSEAT FAITH

By A A Kostas