Into the Fire

God was generous to me: I cry easily. I know. You wonder why I consider this “generous”. And I guess I will answer because it means something to be moved to tears. Whether it’s from hearing “The Star Spangled Banner” at a sporting event or reacting to a Hallmark commercial, tears are an indication of a soul touch. And the feeling of that touch reminds me of our Lord.

Crying can be construed as a sign of weakness in men, of manipulation in women. These opinions often come from truthful evidence of such things. But the men I know do cry, sometimes weep, and are immensely embarrassed when they do—needlessly, I might add because when they are moved to tears, something of great magnitude has occurred. A soul touch. Whether it be in crisis or joy, that tremendous event renders them momentarily out of control.

For women . . . well, yes, I suppose some women have used tearful means to manipulate the men in their lives with an attitude of “Whatever works”. I wouldn’t know. I only know when I cry, it’s for real. And, yes, it’s quite often for so many unexplainable reasons as well for reasons which make perfect sense. It’s not planned and there are certainly many times when I make every effort to hold them back, but most of the time I’m unsuccessful at those endeavors.

I don’t apologize for this emotional response because it’s a heart thing. If tears erupt, I’m feeling something too deep to express any other way. I could say I wish I cried less, but to what end? That I could harden my heart to the responses of my soul? That I could dim my passion for the things which touch me in the place the tears are stored? No. I consider the tears a gift. They remind me of the depths of the human soul. Jesus wept. And although His reasons for doing so were tied to the fallen state of mankind, both His human side and His spiritual being demonstrated the feelings of such loss with tears.

We observe those things which touch our soul, and we respond. With tears of joy, sorrow, regret . . . whatever the cause it is a gift to be able to respond at all.

Father, you tell us you save our tears. You care. You experience our pain, our sorrow, our joy, our needs for what only you can provide. Thank you for the depths of the soul, the responses which you cultivate in us, the heart that is tender to those things which you expect to move us. Thank you for breaking me to get me to that place where I can feel the pain and passion of life through the eyes of the Spirit. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.