Blogs are funny things. They don’t exactly portray life the way it really is. I mean, usually they don’t. Because blogs are full of pretty pictures and fun adventures and things like that and we’re not likely to post the ugly stuff. We don’t like to put pictures of our messes up for the world to see. We’d rather just record the smiles or the nifty crafts and we don’t much talk about the yelling part, or the wrestling part, or the part that’s real and still hurts.

But, those parts are important, too. And maybe they’re even more important because we all need to know that we’re not alone in our struggles. And there’s just so much strength in knowing you’re not alone. So, it’s important–this kind of living with the walls down. It’s a brave sort of living, a risky sort of living, but it’s the only kind that invites others in. And love always invites others in. And it’s insane and it doesn’t make sense to live, full knowing that you could get hurt, but that’s just what love does. It spills out, even at the cost of being misunderstood. Even at the cost of getting hurt.

Because we all know that when walls come down, that means there are no defenses up. There’s nothing to hide behind. No seeming safe place. Nothing there to absorb the lashing shock of rejection. Just this heart tender and bold, willing to bear naked wounds–to uncover all the insecure places. Because it knows that there is healing when light is allowed in. And we all long for healing. And love always wants to do the healing, to give the medicine.

And there is a Love that makes one brave. A  Love that beckons us to be humble, to bend the will and shed the pride to say, “You know what, I really can’t do this all on my own.” And there’s a Love that can keep a life tender even with walls down.

Because we were meant to love each other deeply. And the Lover of all pours out His fervent love into our hearts so we can see that we’re here on this planet with all these people at the same time, to bless. To take care of each other. To show concern for one another. To embrace. To invite in. Walls down.

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
(from 1 Peter 4:7-11)