(Wrote this a few weeks ago when we were renovating the rented house.)
As we paint these walls of this old musky building I think of all the walls that God is bringing down in my own life. A beautiful new coat of paint covers the dirt stains, hand marks, and water damage that makes this building what it is. I think of my own life and how many times I thought I had taken an emotional wall down only to later find out that I had just covered it up with a fresh new color.
It has been three weeks since we arrived in India and already I can see the hand of God working on my life. During this past year God has repeatedly told me what it will mean to fully follow him. Again and again he whispers to me, “It’s going to COST. YOU. EVERYTHING.” I ask Him to tell me more and what that will look like… and I believe that slowly He is already revealing that in part.
Walls are something that we are told we need. Walls keep us safe from the outside world, they protect us from the elements and from strangers getting OUR stuff and into OUR space. They are good in certain contexts….but they can also become a hiding place when there is no need to hide, a comfortable place to linger in.
Coming to India has revealed parts of my life where walls have existed even without my knowledge. Physical walls have a way of actually keeping others out when we don’t want them in, emotional walls are a little more trickier. When you come into a nation where people don’t understand ‘your boundaries’ and therefore don’t honor them you find out real quick how many walls you have actually built up in your life. The other day a waiter at the restaurant that we were in walked up to our table and picked up my son. My immediate thought was, “ that is MY child, I dont know you! How can you just pick him up like that???” After a few seconds of realizing that it was harmless and that he just wanted to play with him my mommy defenses went off and I smiled at the waiter and slowly stood up to get my son back. I know that as a mother that is a perfectly normal reaction, but inside I began to question myself as to ‘What else is OFF limits to others?” Do I get annoyed if someone is talking too long to my husband in a language that I can’t understand, or am I patiently waiting thinking maybe this man needs someone to encourage him or comfort him, or hasn’t had anyone listen to him in a long time. Do I feel emotionally tresspassed if someone asks me about how our 'marriage is' being from two different cultures ( people here feel free to ask any all questions including weight, age, economic status...etc.) or do I take it as an opportunity to tell them about how Christ's love overcomes all barriers including cultural ones.
The walls are coming down…
I have always been a person that valued my personal space and privacy. Since moving to and living as a white woman that concept is kind of out the window. I have generally liked to blend in the crowd…its safe there, but when you’re a little different you get stares…constantly. This wall of hiding out in the crowd…., it’s coming down! God is taking me to a place where I’m not afraid to shine…it can get real dark here in this nation (spiritually speaking) and God’s piercing light always overcomes the darkness. Walls keep that light hidden.
I come to realize that many times we allow certain people into our sacred walls. Our immediate family, our close friends, our pastors, maybe some members of our extended family…but what happens when someone that doesn’t fit into that description tries to come up and make themselves at home??? When I look at Jesus I find that he lets us all come in and sit with him and dine at a table that HE prepared. I didn’t bring anything to it yet He not only allows, but rejoices over me when I come and fellowship. It doesn’t matter if it is a poor disheveled beggar or a nicely dressed businessman…all are welcomed…all are invited in to that sacred place of his heart.
Thank you Lord for bringing me out of my comfort zone and into a place where things and people cause me to remove these barriers and walls. Love knows no boundaries…
As we paint these walls of this old musky building I think of all the walls that God is bringing down in my own life. A beautiful new coat of paint covers the dirt stains, hand marks, and water damage that makes this building what it is. I think of my own life and how many times I thought I had taken an emotional wall down only to later find out that I had just covered it up with a fresh new color.
It has been three weeks since we arrived in India and already I can see the hand of God working on my life. During this past year God has repeatedly told me what it will mean to fully follow him. Again and again he whispers to me, “It’s going to COST. YOU. EVERYTHING.” I ask Him to tell me more and what that will look like… and I believe that slowly He is already revealing that in part.
Walls are something that we are told we need. Walls keep us safe from the outside world, they protect us from the elements and from strangers getting OUR stuff and into OUR space. They are good in certain contexts….but they can also become a hiding place when there is no need to hide, a comfortable place to linger in.
Coming to India has revealed parts of my life where walls have existed even without my knowledge. Physical walls have a way of actually keeping others out when we don’t want them in, emotional walls are a little more trickier. When you come into a nation where people don’t understand ‘your boundaries’ and therefore don’t honor them you find out real quick how many walls you have actually built up in your life. The other day a waiter at the restaurant that we were in walked up to our table and picked up my son. My immediate thought was, “ that is MY child, I dont know you! How can you just pick him up like that???” After a few seconds of realizing that it was harmless and that he just wanted to play with him my mommy defenses went off and I smiled at the waiter and slowly stood up to get my son back. I know that as a mother that is a perfectly normal reaction, but inside I began to question myself as to ‘What else is OFF limits to others?” Do I get annoyed if someone is talking too long to my husband in a language that I can’t understand, or am I patiently waiting thinking maybe this man needs someone to encourage him or comfort him, or hasn’t had anyone listen to him in a long time. Do I feel emotionally tresspassed if someone asks me about how our 'marriage is' being from two different cultures ( people here feel free to ask any all questions including weight, age, economic status...etc.) or do I take it as an opportunity to tell them about how Christ's love overcomes all barriers including cultural ones.
The walls are coming down…
I have always been a person that valued my personal space and privacy. Since moving to and living as a white woman that concept is kind of out the window. I have generally liked to blend in the crowd…its safe there, but when you’re a little different you get stares…constantly. This wall of hiding out in the crowd…., it’s coming down! God is taking me to a place where I’m not afraid to shine…it can get real dark here in this nation (spiritually speaking) and God’s piercing light always overcomes the darkness. Walls keep that light hidden.
I come to realize that many times we allow certain people into our sacred walls. Our immediate family, our close friends, our pastors, maybe some members of our extended family…but what happens when someone that doesn’t fit into that description tries to come up and make themselves at home??? When I look at Jesus I find that he lets us all come in and sit with him and dine at a table that HE prepared. I didn’t bring anything to it yet He not only allows, but rejoices over me when I come and fellowship. It doesn’t matter if it is a poor disheveled beggar or a nicely dressed businessman…all are welcomed…all are invited in to that sacred place of his heart.
Thank you Lord for bringing me out of my comfort zone and into a place where things and people cause me to remove these barriers and walls. Love knows no boundaries…
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