wringing my heart

if the past week has taught me anything-
with hurt from gossip
with my heart warming to some dear people
with reading donald miller

i know that God made us for relationships-
relationships with others.
relationship with Him.

and even though it hurts sometimes and is scary, it is totally and completely worth it, because that is what i was made for.

passion for relationships always involves risk.
false passions/shallow relationships involve little or no risk to self.

and this is what Jesus is all about-
risking it ALL for what is most important:
relationship with HIM and with people

"love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. if you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. but in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. it will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. to love is to be vulnerable."
-c.s. lewis

jesus, save me from the temptation to hide my heart in a casket.
keep it warm and vulnerable.
use my heart.
let me love others the way you love.
but please hold me when it hurts.