Impact

Hard and Heart: A Sorry Pair

Hard Heart.  Two words I never want to read or hear as next-door neighbors in the description of my life.  It’s not that Hard or Heart are bad words, it’s just that when they sit next to each other, they’re a sorry pair.  They poke at each other, antagonize, stir-up, rile; they become something together that individually would never be. 

Any wise person knows the damage those two can cause when they’re together.  They steal your silence, your sleep and your sanity.  And, rarely do they just affect one person; their effects show up in texts, emails, and conversations.  They’re collective influence is seen in grocery stores, malls and roadways.  They keep doctors and nurses busy all night and hospitals filled to capacity; lawyers and judges occupied.  I’m tellin’ you, they’re a sorry pair.  

Hard Heart.  Two words I never want to read or hear as next-door neighbors in the description of my life.  It’s not that Hard or Heart are bad words, it’s just that when they sit next to each other, they’re a sorry pair.  They poke at each other, antagonize, stir-up, rile; they become something together that individually would never be. 

Any wise person knows the damage those two can cause when they’re together.  They steal your silence, your sleep and your sanity.  And, rarely do they just affect one person; their effects show up in texts, emails, and conversations.  They’re collective influence is seen in grocery stores, malls and roadways.  They keep doctors and nurses busy all night and hospitals filled to capacity; lawyers and judges occupied.  I’m tellin’ you, they’re a sorry pair.  

Hard and Heart have friends too.  They just start showing up; unannounced, camping out and leaving a mess.  They move in and take over your house.  Before you know it you’re bringing their mail in from the curb; letters, magazines and credit card applications all addressed to Blatant Disobedience, Misery, Pain and Stench.  These are the best friends of Hard and Heart.  They’re under your roof because you can’t keep Hard and Heart separated.  In some twisted way some people, maybe even you, like seeing them, hard and heart, together.

For you and me, there’s help and hope.  We have friends willing to jump in and drive a wedge between Hard and Heart.  These guys are our real friends:  Obedience, Forgiveness, Trust, Understanding, Patience, Surrender, Humility and Joy.  Anyone of them can do the job; they’re standing by and willing to help keep Hard and Heart separated.

David wrote in Psalm 51:10, “Create for me a pure heart, O God!  Renew a resolute spirit within me!  The heart is very important to God.  It is the wellspring of life.  We must guard our hearts against hardness and always have an open and healthy response towards God.