Treasures

Walls are good for many things. They help protect us, keep our treasures safe from outsiders, and keep out unwanted visitors. But they also isolate us, and drive people away. The walls guarded my treasures, but because I never shared my treasures with anyone, it all began to degrade and collect dust. It was worthless because, though I valued it, no one else could. My treasures were like fine art, hiding under a blanket where no one could see them. They suffocated and I lived alone, though physically surrounded by people.

This is no way to live. This is a way to slowly kill yourself. I know. I tried it.

I have lived with my walls built high. Very high. I believed they kept me safe, and protected my heart from people who would only break it, and it did do that. But it also divided me even from my loved ones, keeping me alone.

We all do this. We live with high walls, avoiding intimate contact with the outside world. But we were created to live life together, sharing our treasures.

And treasures are no necessarily physical or monetary gifts. They can be stories. They can be an experience that tells others "I know what you have been through, and I know that there is another way, or even a way out!" As Steve Saint once told me, people like to see our scars where they have wounds. It tells them they are not alone, and they can heal.

I know, it can seem strange to think of scars as treasures. For us, they are only reminders of past pain and hurt. Sometimes we have only to look and we remember all the agony of the wound with vivid clarity. But our scars offer hope to those who have none. They tell them "I have been able to move past the wound and heal. I can live with the pain. I have survived."

Not all people are like that though. Some people see the beauty and scorn it. They have never experienced that pain and have no idea how to appreciate the beauty God can make of it. All I can say is how sorry I feel for them because they have not the eyes to see God's beauty and the beauty in His broken creation.


But then there are people who don't have the wounds, but can see the beauty. They, though innocent, can see grace in tragedy. I think they are blessed by God because they have the eyes to see and they have the hearts capable of loving the damaged, wounded ones unconditionally. If you know such people, cherish them, because God can use them greatly to bless others.

God also uses us broken people. It amazes me whenever I see it, but God can take the shattered pieces of our hearts and create something so beautiful. What we know to be lost can be made into something beautiful again. But only if we allow God to use our brokenness. Which brings me back to the walls. We can't bless others when we're stuck behind high stone blockades.We have to break down our walls and show others our beauty and allow God to create in us a new beauty from brokenness. Then He can use us to His desire and show others the beauty He alone can create. It is in Him we find life from living death behind walls and find blessings to free us from the accursed walls.

Holy is He and He alone is worthy of praise.