It was this idea of my heart being touched that got me to thinking. Being asked to ignore something that touches my heart, as patriotism does, would be nearly impossible for me to do and also remain fulfilled and content in my life. I believe the Lord wants us to feel fulfilled and content, happy and filled, joyful and at peace. Complete. And those things come through our hearts. I pondered what touches my heart and wondered if the Lord has a problem with some of what touches me. Yet I am unsure how that could be ... He speaks to us through our hearts and our minds. He speaks to our souls through our hearts. I think He loves our hearts.
I feel confident in what touches me through my heart. I think it might be a good practice to pay better attention to just what that is. There are many things that touch my heart, most of those touching me to the point of me shedding tears. I'm going to start blogging about that, like I blogged about feeling the spirit.
It's my heart that directs me, after all. Let's see what it has to say ....
9 comments:
I look forward to this.
I love your heart!!!
I've witnessed beautiful moments when your heart has been touched and has brought you to tears. How could there be anything wrong with that?
I'm not JW, but I'm sure that if a member of that community said, "I can't refrain from saying the Pledge of Allegiance or flying a flag, because my heart is touched by patriotic things," the response would be the scripture from Jeremiah, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Now, I don't agree with this response, but I imagine that they would tell that member to be obedient and refrain from those things, even though it seems natural to that member to feel that way.
Does this sound familiar?
I'm not Kim, but I'll answer for me--no, it does not sound familiar. Kim is using patriotism as an analogy, and all analogies are flawed. Not flying a flag is not the same thing as being soul-numbingly lonely.
I think I've been misunderstood here, so I'll clarify. I'm bemoaning the fact that religions of all kinds tend to tell people to ignore what their hearts tell them. You're heart feels patriotic? Ignore it and obey. (Jehovah's Witnesses). You're heart tells you that you are in love with someone of the same sex? Ignore it and obey. (Mormonism, Catholicism, etc.). You feel like dancing? Ignore it and obey. (Fundamentalist Baptists). Etc.
That's all I meant to say. Of course, to me, trying to keep people from loving who they want to love is much worse than keeping people from flying a flag or dancing. I was just making an analogy myself, but maybe I did it poorly.
I agree with the statement that Kim makes here that she should follow her heart more. We all should. I do think that those who believe that, but also believe in the truthfulness of the Bible, need to own that they do not believe in the specific scripture I mentioned above.
Oh, I'm sorry Michelle, my bad. I was thinking a couple hours after I wrote that, that clearly I *must* have been misinterpreting you.
Apologies,
Erin
Erin,
No apology necessary--I was very unclear!
Best,
Michelle
Wendy, thanks. You're always a great support.
Michelle, it does sound familiar. I'm now going to have to study that verse in Jeremiah to see what my take on it is. Wonder what the Lord meant by that ....
E, awesome that you came to my defense in a round about way. You're so cool to me. I always remember meeting you and think that is one of the highlights of my times having get togethers. Really. I hope to meet you again one day.
Kim, as I recall that day I was scared pukey, but you were kind and welcoming. I appreciated that then, and I appreciate your kind words now!
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