Originally published Wednesday, 29 July 2015.
I took down the pillars of protection to share my heart – and she trampled it.
She said, you really need to get over that feeling, you have to fix that.
It was a “What’s wrong with you?” comeback, to an “I already feel terrible” confession.
It hurt.
Was she right that I needed to change? Of course.
But did it make me want to? No way.
It made me want to add more and more pillars so that no person, no way, no how could knock the walls of my heart down again.
But should I?
Does it benefit me to become just as wrapped up
as a present heading off to some distant land?
Wont this kind of approach keep me just that – distant?
I am tired of distance. I long for closeness. I long for unity. I long to see beyond name brands of clothes and schedules of kids and discussions on traffic. I long to know someone deeply, so deeply that they can speak in to my heart and that I may speak into theirs – empowered by God’s truth laser focused into deep needs.
I long for this and God does too. He tells me to be truthful.
But what do I do when the responses of others
want to shut me up as tight as a submarine in 800-foot waters?
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Prov. 12:19
A moment is pretty much a waste – a momentary smile, a momentary cheer, a momentary friend.
I want what lasts, what counts, what heals, what works, what transforms. The answer is always Jesus. And Jesus was never so concerned with buttoning up his vest to hide that he missed all the opportunities to love.
Because of that, his love is always available to me…
As others batter me.
When the world comes against.
When I feel like running away.
His resurrection power awaits, when I feel body slammed to the ground of shamefulness.
Perhaps the greater lesson in sharing is learning that
my heart is not set on the ups-and-downs of others words,
but on the solid-rock of Christ.
Then I can follow through on God’s calling, which is to:
1. Encourage each other.
We feel most encouraged as we share and others see the real person God created us to be.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thess. 5:11
2. Confess to one another.
Sharing is the starting point to confession.
Therefore confess your sins to each other… Ja. 5:16
3. Pray over healing.
You can’t heal what you don’t know about.
…pray for each other so that you may be healed. Ja. 5:16
To breathe in the power of God, we must exhale the truth of our heart. As our spiritual hunger surfaces, his healing, love and power will seep into our deepest reaching infections.
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Mt. 7:6
Certainly, there is wisdom in this great unveiling. We share with those who understand the delicate nature of pearls. With people, who don’t reside in stinky places that want to make our stuff stink too.
May we have the wisdom to know the difference. May we see their dwelling places (trough or temple?), as we share the dwelling place of our heart.
We won’t always be protected from shame, but we will know God has us all the same.
And, perhaps we will see that:
The leap of spiritual growth is well worth the moment of vulnerable uncertainty and insanity.
Although we may feel naked, God sees us as we are – and loves us anyway.
Intimacy is the greatest way into the heart of God.
Deeper love. Deeper pursuit of God’s hole-filling abilities and a more powerful pursuit of Christ – this is all ours as we take down our pillars of protection to see through God’s eyes.
In a way – we can’t lose.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
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