Photo by James Fuller on Unsplash
The famous 60’s rock band Simon and Garfunkel had a hit song entitled “I am a Rock.” Here are some of the lyrics from the famous song.
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain
It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain
I am a rock
I am an island
But I’ve heard the words before
It’s sleeping in my memory
I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died
If I never loved I never would have cried
I am a rock
I am an island
The next verse focuses on what he has in physical possessions. He will focus on things and not people. He will touch no one and no one will touch him. But the closing line captures the goal of the “rock.”
And an island never cries
He will so harden and close himself to others that he can then be insulated and freed from the pain and tears others have caused him. If he can push all others out, he can push the pain they have caused out too.
How many people feel like that in our world today? They have been so hurt by others, that they seek to harden their hearts and reject any relationship. But this only leads to selfish pursuits and lonely lives. God knew we would hurt because of our love. He experienced great pain because of his love in his offering of his Son on the cross. But he never encourages us to withdraw and make ourselves a rock! He rather encourages us to be real and vulnerable. Jesus wept and laid his burdens before God in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Paul described his emotions at Corinth as involving “weakness, fear, and much trembling.” Peter denied the Lord three times and hurt greatly because of his failure. Though our fleshly, human side says to withdraw and quit, our Heavenly Father urges us to choose to love. He encourages us to share our burdens, confess our sins, choose to go the extra mile, and love even our enemies.
The Lord knows it is an utter deception pulled over by Satan that convinces us we can be a rock which feels no pain. The more we stuff pain down and hide it, the more toxic we make our hearts and lives. That pain will eventually eat us away and can cause misery, even to the point of suicide. Don’t believe the lie! You are not a rock! You are a real person. Be real! Love! Cry! Grieve! Rejoice! God made you a person, not a rock!
