forts

I remember when I was a little kid I liked to build forts. What little boy doesn't enjoy a good fort? Forts were great. They were great when you wanted to hide from someone. Of course, it's easy to spot a blanket draped over some chairs. Forts are also good for protection. They keep the bad guys out. But you can only stay in the fort so long before you run out of juice boxes and fruit snacks. Sooner or later you have to come out.

I have known some adults who have built forts, metaphorical forts, around their lives. I have even done it a time or too. I guess it's a natural reaction to when people let you down. You build a fort so that it becomes more difficult for others to let you down. I understand that. And the more times you have been hurt or disappointed, the stronger the walls of your fort are.

Now, I know that we are supposed to guard our hearts. I get that. But I also know that we are not supposed to live a life fortified from the outside world. Sometimes we can get so caught up in not getting hurt that we cut ourselves off from all feelings and emotions. We won't let others into our lives, fearing that they won't like us if they find out who we really are. If we do let someone in, we fight them the whole way. The tragedy here is that we end up not living a life we were created for. We live a life of exile; one where our hearts are separated from what could be.

I love the quote "the Glory of God is man fully alive." We are not truly living if we live a fortified life. And if we are not truly living, then we are wasting the time we have been given. Sure when we let down our walls we become exposed to the possibility of pain, but we also will get to experience true joy and love that do overshadow the darkness of pain. And I would rather experience all of the emotions that life has to offer, rather than none at all. Besides, broken hearts are meant to be healed, not locked up in a prison.