any other way

Once again, a blog post coming from a song I was listening to where the words struck me and started me thinking. This time the song is by Tenth Avenue North, called Any Other Way.



As I was reading over and listening to the song, I found myself thinking about it in terms of our relationships with other believers. But then when I got to the end, I realized that it was probably talking about our relationship with God. But, I feel that both ways of looking at it apply in this song.

Don't say goodbye, don't say hello

We're just standing on the surface

Don't say alright, don't say I know

I promise it's not worth it

 I want to know who you are

Even if you're falling apart

Reach in and touch your scars

And all the shame you're kept in your heart

'Cause it's not enough

It's not enough just to say that we're okay

I need your hurt, I need your pain

It's not love any other way

Let's not pretend, stop your parade

Trying to convince me

That you're alright and everything's okay

Do you even know me?

'Cause I already know who you are

And all the things that kept us apart

So reach in and touch my scars

And know the price I paid for your heart

'Cause it's not enough

It's not enough just to say that we're okay

I need your hurt, I need your pain

It's not love any other way

A broken and contrite I will not despise

Come as you are and I won't close my eyes

I won't close my eyes

I won't close my eyes

'Cause it's not enough

It's not enough just to say that you're okay

Well, you needed my hurt

You needed my pain

It's not love any other way

As I was thinking about it in terms of our relationships with fellow disciples of Christ, I was thinking about how we so often put up a front that says we are okay - even if we are falling apart and hurting behind that. We do not let anyone get close enough to really know us and to see our pain. But, I think we need that. We need to allow people in to the deepest parts of us. It is risky to let people in there, but it is what we need.

When I spent more time dwelling on the lyrics and saw how they were talking about our relationship with Jesus, I was struck by how we do much the same thing with Jesus that we do with fellow disciple of Christ. We try to hide what is really going on - we put up a front that all is good in our lives. We refuse to let Jesus into the hurt in our lives. But, letting Jesus into that pain and hurt is probably the least risky thing we can do because we can trust Him completely. Whereas another person may hurt us more if we let them in, Jesus will bring His healing to that pain if we allow Him in.

Some questions I am pondering right now about this:

How am I doing at taking down the front I usually put up with other people?

Do I have people in my life who I allow to see that I am not always okay?

Do I have people in my life who I allow to see my pain?

Am I letting Jesus in? Or am I trying to put up a front with Him too?

Am I willing to allow Jesus into the very depths of my pain - my shame - my hurt - so that I can experience His healing?