Millions of women share a common problem. Yet behind the harrowing statistics are faces, names, and stories that humanize the numbers and justify the need for the Christian community's acknowledgment and assistance to those suffering from stolen choices or choices they regret.
"A Purely Wrong Story: Escaping Sexual Shame, Exposing a Game-Changer, and Editing Your Life Story without Changing the Facts" introduces a Christian initiative to support girls and women of all ages who suffer from traumatic or regretful sexual experiences. Thanks to growing global media attention, the world can no longer ignore the depths and heights this social issue reaches, the economic levels it spans, and the continents it crosses. Awareness is promising, but for millions of women, the solution is paramount. Anyone hiding this type of pain is guaranteed to need help. However, some women cannot hurdle their embarrassment, and other women's circumstances demand inconspicuous help. "A Purely Wrong Story" accommodates many hindrances to healing by providing women with tailored ways to obtain support—print, e-book, and audio versions. The print version's bonus materials also provide study questions applicable for individual or social group use.
Though a longtime Christian, Burns struggled to understand how God factored into the sexual trauma and regret that stained her life. Since healing managed to elude her for years, Burns questioned the likelihood of others finding God under these circumstances, given the Christian community's nearly exclusive focus on abstinence. Therefore, "A Purely Wrong Story" utilizes an unassuming, nonjudgmental approach, respecting any starting point of believers and non-believers alike. Each page testifies to firsthand experience with situations that many consider too awkward to address, shame that eclipses the future, and the pain of feeling disqualified or ruined.
Author Laurel Burns appreciates that hurting women's receptiveness to help hinges on trust. As a fellow survivor, Burns boasts a unique position secured through decades of battling shame and a refusal to allow her healing to go to waste. She embodies the answer for any despairing soul needing hope from the trenches rather than a pedestal.
Until now, millions of women have shared a common problem because it's been uncommon to discuss the solution from a Christian perspective. Now, the conversation can open up to all.
A PURELY WRONG STORY — OVERVIEW
Chapter Sections:
Section 1: The Beginning Chapters
Shame can sometimes blind us to the reality of what we are dealing with, and, until we can accurately diagnose the problem, we will be unable to find a resolution. When we can conquer naming or identifying the situation/experience that is the reason for our shame, we can begin to deal with the shame. Shame is ruthless and will often usher in profound pain and further consequences such as faulty foundations or deductions about our life and our self-worth. When our beliefs are rooted in anything less than truth, we are in danger. We need to see where our beliefs and actions are based on foundations that may be more “familiar” than factual.
Section 2: The Plot Thickens
In order for healing to take place, new insights and truth must be revealed which combat the hopelessness of shame. Brokenness seems like the end, but healing insights can provide a more accurate view of the options and possibilities that are available. A switch must take place in our beliefs and feelings in order for us to begin to find out who we are, what we were created to be, and to realize that—even though we are fallen—we are not finished. Between accurately assessing our pain and discovering healthier ways of dealing with the pain, we can find the leverage to desire something different, something more.
Section 3: The Rewrite
Once there is a desire for change, we can work toward translating that desire into real-life actions and mindsets to bring about that change. Lasting change will be made one choice at a time—choosing to implement practices that lead to life rather than to shame. And while shame is a piece of our life story, our story is certainly not over. Shame will no longer be our identity, and it will not be the last word in our life. A new ending deserves to be written, and our healing is worth sharing. Each of our unique stories can be evidence of lavish grace and shocking worth that still exist for every soul.
Sexual trauma and regret comes in many varieties and "A Purely Wrong Story" is written to accommodate a wide array of stories. Furthermore, while the subject matter is a very serious matter and could be a heavy topic for many, "A Purely Wrong Story" utilizes humor as often as possible to infuse a sense of hope and to gift the reader with some laughter during this journey. Rather than a message from a pedestal, the book's message comes from a survivor of the trenches and forges an immediate connection with other survivors.
The most enjoyable, powerful portion of this book is its closing pages. Author Laurel Burns channels all her efforts to address healing for both present and eternal purposes in a unique culmination that will hopefully remain with readers forever.
Sure, by feeling Jesus’ breath, one could have quickly
confirmed that Jesus was alive. And by observing Him walk,
talk, and eat among them, many witnesses were convinced
that Jesus did, indeed, conquer death. But in the presence
of such power—power that left behind an empty grave and
embarrassed the shame of the cross—would they have made
a personal connection with Jesus? If Jesus had taken a poll to
see who else had hung on a cross and lived to tell the tale, it
would have been a quick poll! Safe to say, no one could have
concurred, “That’s my story!” Instead, those polled would have
replied with blank stares and the sound of crickets.
It is far more likely that this stark division would have
carved a Grand Canyon between Jesus and those around
Him rather than tailored an invitation to draw near. It’s just
not our tendency to equate prestige with humility, elevation
with accessibility, or power with sensitivity. So while Jesus’
power qualified Him as the Messiah, it did not automatically
qualify Him as approachable or understanding. And though
He was technically near, our ability to relate with Him was
still a long way off.
Though hindsight is always 20/20, you have no idea what
the outcome will be while in the midst of a situation. Your
view is too narrow. However, after you know the outcome, it
becomes easier to see how all the smaller events fit together to
form a bigger picture. But standing at the foot of the bloody
cross, we would not have had clear vision. Only now, with
the whole story before us in the Bible, can we have any 20/20
insight. Yet the crucifixion served up sorrow for those who
witnessed it up close. However, from God’s perspective, the
crucifixion delivered joy. Up close, the crucifixion singled
out the worst day ever. From God’s viewpoint, it marked
the world’s best day ever. Up close, it appeared that evil had
won. But from God’s vantage point, He saw that justice had
triumphed.
What seemed like the worst day ever, the greatest injustice
in all history, and the most devastating thing to ever happen—
was not an accident.
Nor was it a surprise.
It was a plan.
And God’s plan operated in light of eternity.
Since the beginning of time, He commanded a plan to
save people from a sinful debt they could never repay or work
off themselves.
Jesus’ death satisfied the punishment due us and canceled
our debt.
His resurrection overpowered the enemy’s chokehold.
Eternity’s door opened and presented an unmerited welcome
to us.
Mercy triumphed over sin—and mercy still does.
Yet we can only appreciate any of that because of our larger
perspective. If our view was limited to the crucifixion, we could
not distinguish any good at work. And those who witnessed
the crucifixion would have never caught it either—without
the help of the scars, that is.
Jesus’ scars provided Him no personal benefit. He needed
no assurance of what He had endured during the crucifixion.
Beyond that, if Jesus could heal disabilities, cleanse lepers,
cast out demons, and rise from the dead to defeat death for
eternity—is it logical to believe that scars posed an issue
for Him? Since God restored Jesus’ body from every one of
death’s effects, we can be certain: He could have wiped away
any scars as well.
Yet Jesus’ scars were not an oversight.
He may have left His grave clothes and the tomb behind Him,
but He chose to carry out His scars.
Why?
Beyond authenticating Himself as an all-powerful Savior,
His scars did what power could not: They bridged the gap
between His triumph and our suffering. His scars qualified
Him as approachable and able to relate to our suffering. And
Jesus kept them so we could dare to believe that suffering
sometimes paves the road to victory.