Fences - this will be a long one, so put your seat belt on

I was coming back from Toowoomba via bus and train, and what I noticed was that almost every house had a fence. So I decided God should give me a revelation about that. ;) So he did, very generous of him. This is what he said:

1. Almost every house has a fence
2. Fences come in different types: (in no particular order)
a) A tall, thick, no gaps fence - the type to give privacy
b) The decorative fence - just to make the house look pretty, usually white with pickets ;) your standard fence
c) The run down, bits missing and rotten wood fence - the house with no money/no time/don't care or all of the above
d) The fence to keep animals or small children in or out - depending on the size of either, and usually quite sturdy
e) and finally, something to mark a boundary - territory, so all involved know what is whose. (Thank you anonymous source for this one)
3. A fence, while in this case is literal, can also be metaphorical.

My friend taught me the difference between similes and metaphors, so I'm using this opportunity to put that into practise. (My anonymous source also told me I could use practise there and not practice - and not to quote that) Fences of the heart can be examined using the same template that I so brilliantly created above. So here we go:

1. Almost every heart has a fence.
2. Fences of the heart come in many types:
a) The privacy - nobody can see the real you, it's hidden, so your private thoughts stay that way, and that way you don't get hurt. Maybe made by previous hurt?
b) The decorative - To make you a little more exciting - a bit of mystery and frills make you a much more interesting person, so make some things up and add a little bit of fake emotional baggage.
c) The run down - For the weary soul, who used to have the best fence, whose heart was the most protected, but now lies in ruins because the fence wasn't enough. It took so much damage that it couldn't stand. Maybe all that is left is to start again with a new fence.
d) The barrier - to keep people in or out. This decides who is worthy of being in your heart - people or God. Most likely a self-protective manoeuvre.
e) A territorial fence. This part of my heart can be yours, because we are married, but this will always stay mine, and no one is allowed in. This can be things you are afraid to share, or bits of shattered heart that you keep close for fear of losing altogether - so close you won't let anyone heal it.
3. God can heal things - and although a fence wouldn't keep him out, he stays on the outside of it because he is a gentleman. Keep him out, fine, but your heart will be damaged no matter what fence you have, let him in, and your fence will go. Gradually, he will help you to break it down, to become vulnerable, but protected by him. This isn't to say you will not get hurt, but God will change you through it - and you will heal. Trust.