hopequest blog

If Only I Had a Heart

Heart

” The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

What do you consider to be the most beautiful things in the world?  Helen Keller says these things cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.  The words that come to my mind when I think about beautiful things I can’t see or touch would be love, understanding, and acceptance.  Do you have people in your life that make you feel these beautiful things?

For a long time, I have closed my heart.  I didn’t want to be hurt or judged and so it seemed like I’d be better off guarded.  In the recent months, I have come to realize that guarding my heart may protect me from pain or hurt, but it also doesn’t allow for those real heart feelings- love, understanding, and acceptance, to make their way in.  Allowing my heart to open has been a slow and sometimes painful process, but I feel strongly that I want to feel these beautiful things that Helen Keller talks about.  I want to offer them to the people in my life as well.

When Tin Man in Wizard of Oz wanted a heart, he wanted a physical beating heart. Little did he know that he had “heart”, for in fact, he was the most tender of all the characters.   I think this is a great example of how we all have heart; it’s just a matter of recognizing it and using it.

Maybe there is someone in your life that you have closed your heart to.  Someone that you feel you cannot offer the unseen “beautiful things” Helen Keller talks about.  And maybe you have good reason to close your heart!  But I just want to challenge you today to take a small step towards that person.  Your small step could be something as simple as a prayer.  I’m on this journey with you as we try to open our hearts and really feel those beautiful things.

Thinking of you,
Sam

 Tin Man’s song better not be yours! Click here to find out!