How about yours?

Just before mom's passing, I found myself crying at the drop of a hat. You might just say something, then almost imperceptibly, the tears would begin to well up and there you are, leaking tears I've never been one of those individuals who "leaks" tears very often, but a good cry does something to cleanse our soul, doesn't it? The most precious tears are often shed right when I least expect them and in times of either anticipated loss, or those times when loss has occurred. Sometimes it doesn't even have to be loss that drives me to tears. I can be driving down the road, listening to the Christian station, when a song comes on which "hits" me right where I am in life. The words do more than carry me along - they minister to my heart. In turn, I might just "leak" a little! Truth is, I like to laugh much better than I enjoy crying! Yet, there are some definite "types" of tears which I think say much more than any amount of laughter. These are the tears of grief, joy, comfort, and hope.

Crying is better than laughing. It blotches the face but it scours the heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:3 MSG)

The tears of grief come on occasion. We experience grief because we have some sense of loss. It might be the loss of a loved one, but it could be the loss of reputation, relationship, or something more material such as a special bracelet someone made for us. I remember losing my dad when I was around thirty. He was a very special man in my life. I could always turn to him. He never judged. His heart was always open, no matter what my behavior (and boy did my behavior challenge his love at times). The night before he died, I went to see him after I got out of my nursing class. I was tired after a long day on the nursing floor, but I knew I needed to be there with him. As I drove home that night, I recall vividly a song I have only heard another two or three times since then. In the words of the song, a small child came home to cars and people surrounding his home. The crux of the song: Grandpa has gone home! I knew this was God's way of telling me my heavenly Father was ushering my earthly father home. He left us at five the next morning. Yep, I "leaked" that night driving home. But...it was a "good leak" because I knew exactly where my dad was going and I knew my heavenly Father had each of us who were left behind in his tender care. We all experience grief - there is something quite "cleansing" about the shedding of the tears which come from a broken heart. I think those tears are all captured in God's hand, then carefully transferred to little bottles. Each bottle bears our name. As God looks at each of the bottles, he sees some fuller than others, but each tear has such meaning - not one of them escaped his notice. Not one of them is ever forgotten by him.

The tears of joy likely come more often. Have you ever been so in awe of something someone did for you, so overwhelmed by the moment, you just "leak" tears of joy? You know the ones I mean - the moment just ministers to your heart. Those moments when more is spoken in one deed or one carefully chosen word than could ever be demonstrated in a thousand deeds or words. I have been blessed with some pretty special friends in life. Each season of my life has brought at least one specific friend who walks closely with me through that season. In my young adult years, I had the closeness of a friend who encouraged my spiritual growth, challenged me to go to Bible College, and then even took care of my children so I could! She changed their diapers, fed them lunch, and even helped me get them potty-trained - all while I was getting my education. As I walked down the aisle to receive my diploma that night in 1984, I knew I was receiving this diploma for two people - because she made it possible by her sacrifice! Yep, I "leaked" tears of joy as we embraced, she told me how proud she was of me, and I just held onto her knowing how awesome it was to have such a friend. You see, we left within the week, never to see each other again. Our "season" was ending. But...oh what a time of joy we had celebrated over the years! There is nothing quite as uplifting as having someone alongside in the journey. In those "moments" - tears of joy are only natural. Now, I have a BFF who stands by me in thick and thin, enjoys throwing in a hook right beside me in the river, and who challenges me in new ways to grow, be consistent, and be the best I can be.

The tears of comfort and the tears of hope are a little bit related. I have noticed myself being very sensitive to various songs of worship at church, or when they come on the radio. In the words, I find such comfort. They minister deeply to my spirit and in turn, they minister to my mind and body, as well. You see, God cannot touch our spirit and leave our mind or body unaffected. In touching our spirit, he is getting at the heart of what makes us unique - for it is in the spirit where we connect with God. The songs I am finding such comfort in right now? Those which speak of the nearness of God. I just am in a season of needing to experience his "nearness". You probably know what I mean - those times when words just fail, but the presence of God just speaks volumes. We all need these times of comfort for our soul - the best place of comfort is in the arms of Jesus. I don't know about you, but when he holds this sinner close, I leak a little! We all get to the place we just don't see any way things are going to work out. We are at the end of our rope and we just see ourselves circling the drain, so to speak. Tenth Avenue North has a song called, "Any Other Way". The words which I'd like us to hear from this song are really found in the chorus: "It's not enough just to say we're okay. I need your hurt, I need your pain. It's not love any other way." The words are words of hope. The Lord is speaking them. He is saying, "YOU needed my hurts. YOU needed my pain. Frankly, it is NOT love any other way!" It gives me great hope knowing God doesn't skimp on the very thing we need to be free of our own hurts and pain! Just some thoughts on tears this morning. Yep, I leaked a few just writing this, but that is okay. They are in my bottle - shelved carefully in his care. How about yours? Just askin!

Invitation to cry out

 I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy.  He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him. Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels.  Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help: "Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!" God is gracious—it is he who makes things right, our most compassionate God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.

(Psalm 116:1-6)

I have been asked why I serve God - why I love him with all my heart.  I used to have a really elaborate answer - one that took some time to "prepare" that some in Christianity would call "a testimony".  I appreciate David's simplicity in his declaration above - I love God because he listened to me!  When it comes right down to it, isn't that what all of us could say when we are asked why it is that we love God?  He listens!  He responds!  He makes things right when we get them wrong!  He takes our side!  There you go - that is my testimony!

Our friends and family need to hear the truth that God responds with mercy when we cry out for him to "fix" what we have "botched" up or what seems to be out of our control anymore.  Look at what David described as the condition of his life:  Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels.  He was not just in need of God's mercy, he was desperate!  Things were tougher than he could possibly handle on his own and he didn't know which way to turn - he was in the midst of a mess and he was confused about the next steps to take.

Then....he called out to God for help!  I like those "qualifying" words in scripture.  We call them the "joining" words in a series of words that describe an idea - then, therefore, because, but, etc.  They suggest a transition.  David's moment of transition was when he called out to God - in honest declaration of his circumstances, what he was feeling at that moment, and his desperation to get God's help in the matter.  Most of us are not unlike David - we sometimes have to get to the place of desperation BEFORE calling out to God.  What a pity to wait so long!  God was there all along - but we were so caught up in doing things our way that we didn't call out to God until things got desperate.

Desperation suggests urgency - things are "heating up" and an answer is needed right now!  The pressure becomes intolerable - we are at the point where we are just about ready to give into the despair we are feeling.  Then....we call out to God.  There it is - the transition point!  I am so glad that I am not God!  If I was, I'd get pretty disgusted with those of us that have to get to a place of desperation before we think about calling out to God for help!  Thank goodness I am not God!  He responds in mercy - regardless of when the "call" goes out.  It can come before things get heated - in the midst of the heat - or when things are crumbling in around us.  All he cares about is that the call comes!

There is an old fairy tale or fable that describes the boy who cried wolf too many times.  You may remember it - he would say there was a wolf attacking and when people came to his rescue, no wolf was to be seen.  Then when the wolf actually did attack, no one came because he had "cried wolf" too many times.  I know the moral of this story was that we should not lie as people will not know when to trust that we are telling the truth when we do.  I'd like to go one step further with this story.

The amazing thing about God is that we can "cry wolf" and he comes!  It doesn't matter to him that we may be anxious over stuff that he tells us not to be anxious about.  He comes!  Why?  Simply because he loves us - he wants us to know he will always be there!  He comes because we MATTER to him!  We are the focus of his attention.  God enjoys the times when we nuzzle up to him in prayer - not really "desperate" for anything from him at the moment.  He "lives for" the moments we will cry out in our desperation - ready to respond with mercy and grace!  

Our invitation today is to cry out!  Get "desperate" with God - tell him what you need.  Be bold enough to admit you are at the end of your rope - ready to pack it all in.  Let him know the anxiety of soul that brings you to your knees.  He stands ready to respond.