I Don't Want To Lose Heart

I recently ready John Eldridge's Waking the Dead. Very good. I needed to hear much of what he wrote. In it, he tells a portion of the Tin Man's story from The Wizard of Oz that fails to make it into the movie. Originally, the Tin Man was a real man, who was really in love. But the Wicked Witch carried out an evil plot against the Tin Man. She cast a spell that would eventually harden his heart. Every time the Tin Man was injured, his injured body part would be replaced by tin. Stronger. More durable. Safer from harm. But after a series of blows, his humanity was reduced to efficiency. I think as of late, I too have seized upon efficiency, busyness, and productivity over real life.

Perhaps it's the result of a difficult move (difficult in the sense that it was hard to leave where we moved from - where we've moved to is great). Whatever the reason, I find myself driven more by duty than love lately. I find myself yearning to have my heart back. I don't want to lose heart.

It brings to mind a scene from Braveheart. The young prince, Robert the Bruce, has just returned from the battlefield, where he had betrayed the Scottish hero William Wallace, to report to his father (now near death due to his leprosy).



"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." - Proverbs 4:23

How do I do that? What helps? Starting my morning out in God's Word. Worshiping him in private on my guitar. Lately, I've been going back and listening to some of the music I listened to when I first gave my life to Christ. For awhile, I've been sensing I need to start doing a monthly DAWG (Day Alone With God) day. Whatever it is, I better do it. I don't want to lose heart.

How about you? What helps you guard your heart?