Don't Build Walls

At almost every graveside or memorial serve I’ve officiated; I spend a few minutes giving my thoughts about “What do I do now?” I hope people will consider what they should do as they walk away. THOUGHT #1 - DEATH IS THE DESTINY OF EVERY PERSON. WE WILL ALL FACE DEATH. THOUGHT #2 - LIVE AS IF TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH. THOUGHT #3 - ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AS IF YOU’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM AGAIN. THOUGHT #4 - PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. THOUGHT #5 - LOVE ONE ANOTHER. THOUGHT #6 - LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BUILD WALLS. DON’T BUILD WALLS. TEAR DOWN EXISTING WALLS. You and I both know that people get offended. I’ve gotten offended. You’ve been offended. One of the primary themes of Jesus’ teaching was forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer, the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, contains the line; “forgive us our debts as we forgive others.” Jesus expected the need to forgive others would be a regular occurrence in people’s lives. The only topic in that prayer that he revisited was forgiveness. “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV) Rehashing each offense is like adding bricks to the wall between you and the person who offended you and the wall grows larger and more impenetrable. The walls create an emotional and relational barrier between people. Walls make life into a “maze” of confusion and misdirection. Walls of offense don’t come down without work. It requires serious effort to dismantle them. Dismantling walls can be terrifying, complicated, and unsettling. Don’t let the stress and strain of pulling the wall apart stop you. If there is a wall between you and someone else, pray for wisdom and get to work pulling the wall apart. It may happen one brick at a time, but with the wisdom Jesus promises, the wall can come down. Forgive. Don’t build walls. Tear down existing walls. Walls make a maze course what it is. Remove the walls and the maze will disappear. Life is too short to live a “maze life”.