Watching Joshua Love

From Early in the Morning by Andrew Osenga

These days, they are a river
That we’re all floating down
Every loved one, every neighbor
In Tennessee, in my hometown

So let us not take this for granted,
Let us not waste the second hand
But let your love rage like a lion
And let your heart break like a lamb

This verse of this song reminds me of my son. The little guy has one of the sweetest and most loving temperaments I have ever seen. He is constantly talking to strangers. Last week he tried to kiss the checkout lady at Kroger. She jumped out of the way. This week (we are in Florida) a little girl walked up to the pool. Joshua tried to hold her hand, hug her, and kiss her. Three strikes and he was out. He cried and climbed in Rebecca's arms.

It is hard to see his soft, little heart break. I pray that the rejections that are going to come don't harden him and make him scared to love. We all have some hurt, some wound that has calloused our hearts and made us hard. I can't exactly put into words what I feel for Joshua when I see his attempts at love end in a way he doesn't anticipate. It makes me ache and hope it doesn't leave him scared and afraid.

I want him to have love that rages like a lion and a heart that breaks like a lamb. I want him to put his heart out there and take the chances that true love requires.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” -- CS. Lewis

The only source for love stronger than fear is found in Jesus. The only true safety this earth can offer comes from our Maker. He is the Lion and the Lamb. His love is terrifying, demanding, jealous, and raging. His heart was crushed, pierced, sorrowful, and broken.

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Look and see the Worthy, Conquering Lion. Look and see the Broken, Sacrificed Lamb. Don't be afraid. Love, even though it is going to break your heart.

One little side note. This is two posts in a row that involve Andrew Osenga's new record, 'The Morning.' I HIGHLY recommend this album. I cannot stop listening to it and am struck and inspired by the lyrics each time through. I am adding a link to Andrew Osenga's website. Check him out.