Walls of our hearts
I came across this term Walls of our hearts back in the early 80's when I met this person by the name of Bruce Thompson who was visiting my country and was teaching at the Tung Ling Bible School in Singapore. Just sitting around him and listening to his sharing on this topic was very enlightening, refreshing as well as inspiring.
What brought this up was a "coffee night out" with the boys and they commented that how I dare to shared so much of my personal experiences and family on the blog! They would feel uncomfortable to do such things. Then today, I met a visitor to my blog and I discovered she even shared more openly about her own struggles and difficulties. Visit awannabe and read about her stories, very interesting as well as engaging writing. It keeps you reading on for more.
Back to Walls of our hearts, what I learned from Bruce was that as one goes through life meeting all sorts of rejections from family, friends, society and the work place; one tends to build-up a wall of defense, with the apparently good self-protection mechanism to shield oneself from further hurts.
This wall that we build up is also the medium that cuts us off the love that we can receive from people! Until we come to a place where we are willing to let down this wall, then we will also alienate ourselves and the spiral goes on and on to the extent that we become very confused, insecure and fearful. Subsequently our relationship with people suffers and manifestations of control, manipulative personalities surfaced. This can start from a very young age.
We need to have someone who we feel really safe, someone we can trust, to bare our hearts and not get a repulsive look, someone who can understand and do not condemn us for who we truly are. Is there such a person in our lives that fits the bill? Naturally our parents are suppose to be the ones but what if our parents themselves are wounded, hurting people? Even to our spouse we dare not reveal some of our darkest secrets!
To me, that person is Jesus Christ where I can bare my heart to Him and I know He not only understands but also forgives me for all the evil and wrongs that I had committed or omitted. He pulls down that wall and once my secrets are in the Light I am free and my relationships with others are also free, for now I am no longer under condemnation, for God has judged me, admittedly guilty but thankfully forgiven.
I know exactly what you are talking about. I let one person in my heart a long time ago and when I lost that person I really never fully trusted another.
Although I gave my heart to Jesus when I was 7, I sought unconditonal love from people as well. I am beginning to understand that only God can love us unconditionally. Thank you for your post. I’m going to try to add you to my faves on Technorati so you’ll be on my blogroll and I can come visit more often.
God bless you
Thanks awannabe, we understand each other well! I can empathize with your experiences in life but thank God you are are moving forward!
Very interesting post Bokjae! Thanks for sharing this information!
Thanks desiree, I used to draw inspiration as well as learning from your writings too!