It takes one to have the other

Inspired by Jason Mraz's song 'Life is Wonderful'. The words go along the lines of: 'It takes a crane to build a crane, it takes a hen to make an egg, it takes an egg to make a hen, it takes some silence to make sound, it takes a road to go nowhere, it takes a toll to make you care, it takes one to have the other.' Not in that order or anything, but the words are in there somewhere ;)

So the point is - it takes evil to know good, and hate to know love. If you have been through trials and have been hated or despised for one reason or the other, than you know love when you see it. Likewise, as it says somewhere in the bible (please, add the reference if you know, when I find it I will add it in) he how has been forgiven much will forgive much. When you know the love it takes for God and others to forgive you, how much easier then is it for you to forgive? I think it works the same in something that is personal to you. If you struggle with a particular sin for a long time, and only by God's grace and a lot of perseverance are you finally free, then you will see people that struggle with the same sin in a completely different light. Maybe this makes your ministry choice easier - to go somewhere you have been - and have come out the other side. Once your healing has begun, then you are able to help heal others.

On this note, I was listening to a preacher by the name of Kris Vallotton, who was talking about when Jesus approached the region of Gerasenes (in Mark ch 5) where a demon possessed man was causing trouble, and he cast the demons (named Legion, for they were many) into the herd of pigs, and the man was free. Jesus then left the region, because the herdsmen keeping the pigs were angry with him, and the former demon possessed man pleaded to go with him. Jesus declined, saying "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." In another words - he left the man to minister to the people - having only just been healed himself. What could this man possibly teach the people? Not about the laws and doctrines, not about faith or God - only what he had seen first hand. And Jesus didn't leave someone with him to teach him - he told him to go straight out and share what he knew. So there you go.

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.