You might think you have the best sister ever, but you’d be wrong. That would be me. :)

I don’t generally read webcomics, but I really enjoy XKCD. It is, after all, a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language. I’m particularly fond of this one. I can relate to that. :)

I recently subscribed to something pastor Tim Cox writes every day called “Footloose on the Journey.” I’ve been enjoying them all, but today’s could not be more appropriate for what’s been on my mind for the past few weeks.

I needed to stop by the bank before going to the office this morning. I got there and they were not open. They were supposed to be open but the doors were locked up tight. After a few minutes the manager of the bank came to the door, unlocked it and said: “We’re not open yet. I have Brinks inside and they won’t come out until you move to the side.”

We promptly obeyed and out came the Brinks’ men…heavily armed and guarding the money they were taking to the truck. They banged on the door of the truck, it opened from the inside and with quick precision the money was unloaded, the men were inside the truck, the door slammed, and the truck was moving out of the lot. These guys knew what it meant to guard something.

How about us?

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 TNIV

When I first learned this verse, those teaching it to me applied it to sexual temptations. The verse works for that but it applies in so many other ways. Don’t just guard your heart against lust. Guard it against discouragement. Guard it against pride. Guard it against doubt. Insecurity. Jealousy. Distraction. Loneliness. Guard it against ______________. (you fill in the blank).

Be careful about who and what gets into your heart. Be selective about who gets backstage access in your life. You can’t let just anyone into your world to speak into your soul. Be careful who you take advice from. Their immaturity or ignorance might confuse the issue and create needless chaos.

Be careful what you let out of your heart! Be careful who you share your dreams with. Their negativity or mishandling of that which is dear to you can contaminate the possibility before it ever has a chance to become a reality. Heart issues shared at the wrong time or with the wrong people can cause pain.

God’s placed some valuable stuff in your heart and it needs to be guarded at all costs.

Of course, the time comes when we have to take the risk and let stuff in and out of our hearts. We just have to be careful because everything flows from the heart! Put it on lock down…and like the Brinks guys, when it’s time to let some stuff out of your heart, make sure the path is clear, even if it means you have to ask some folks to step to the side.

a friend on the journey,
tim

I love when things like this pop up in my inbox perfectly timed. I’ve been thinking about how much I do this in relation to those around me, because it seems like I take a completely different approach than some others I know, particularly with “new” people. I’ve been told I have trust issues, and I’m a closed book and blah blah…but maybe I am just…mindful, and the people that told me those things are just out there sharing willy nilly. Or maybe I take it to an extreme. Or maybe no one is on guard quite enough.  I’m going to go think about that some more on my drive home because I am officially on spring break. :)