Walls.
They´re constantly around us. Whenever we´re inside our homes we´re constantly boxed in by four in almost every room, not counting the floor and ceiling. When we walk down the street, we are flanked by them on either side; walls that keep us out and block our vision of what goes on within.
Walls.
They´re for our protection, privacy, and comfort. They separate us from the world around us. They separate all our junk from others and their junk.
Walls.
Behind them, we act differently depending upon the classification of the walls we are or are not behind, and when we dare to invite others into our own personal walls, we feel we must clean up a bit and make our space present a certain message about us. Only the occasional very special and trusted person will be allowed into such sacred space unfiltered.
Walls.
Not only do we possess physical walls all around us, but at least for myself, I have built quite a few emotional and relational walls in my 21 years. They function pretty much the same way as our physical walls do. They keep others out, things we may be ashamed of hidden, and those precious vulnerable parts of ourselves protected.
Walls.
While they aren´t always bad, providing needed refuge and protection, these emotional walls that we build up severely limit relationships and growth. I have probably a billion (maybe slight exaggeration) that are hard work tearing down and letting others past. They are heavily guarded. Only the occasional person who spends quite a bit of time looking and investing and building trust will be allowed access through the secret passageway. My walls don´t really have gates. However, as frustrating as working to tear down these 21 years of hard labor might be, walls are falling, and it´s beautiful. Walls that have kept me from even fully knowing who I am in Christ and those things that make me who I am. Walls that don´t just keep bad things out but really good things out as well. Life with walls may be safe, but I mean, a prison cell is safe, and who wants to live life in a prison. One of my favorite Robert Frost poems tells the story of two neighbors coming together to build a wall, with the line, ¨Good fences make good neighbors.´ Maybe so in the sense that with something between them, they never have to be inconvenienced or work past issues that may arise, but I´m not convinced that true neighbors and community are better with walls.
Walls.
Not only have I encountered them in myself here on the race, but they´re in pretty much every person we come into contact with. The amazing boys we worked with this month are by no means an exception. They have had to protect themselves and make their own way in the world for the most part, and it´s not been a safe world they have had to exist in. I know they have seen and experienced things I can only imagine. However, it has been such an amazing month of just seeing those walls come down one by one around us. They have so much life and joy. I´ve just seen how they are daily learning to live in a community of love and grace and that they can trust their leaders who want nothing but the best for them, and eventually trust God who is so evident in their lives.
Walls.
Yep, they can be pretty useful sometimes, but I would much rather live my life as an open and sun-filled meadow. So, in the words of President Reagan 30-some years ago, ¨Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!¨
