Exchange Of Hearts

By Lynne Keating

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you;
and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
~Ezekiel 36:26

I’d like to tell you that when the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send,” I stand up and wave my hand excitedly. But I don’t. I just pretend to drop a pencil and crouch down on the floor so He won’t see me. I don’t like hearing about the suffering of saints like Bernadette, Damien of Molokai, or Catherine of Siena.

Sacrifice? Check back with me later, okay?

I’m often content being a “high maintenance” lover of God – a “kept” woman. He gives me every good thing and doesn’t ask too much of me. If that varies, I whine, pout, and run into the busyness I use as an opiate. I can’t imagine why He puts up with me. But He does – and this fervent and faithful love—throws me off my carefully constructed life plan. How I wish that I could give to Him as freely as He gives to me.

In her book, Persuasion, Jane Austen writes, “There could have never been two hearts so open…no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved.” It’s a story about a girl who constantly allows herself to be pulled away from the commitment to love.

This Friday and Saturday, we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mystics and Popes tell us that their hearts were so close; they were as one. This closeness is what I want. Still, I know that if I pursue such love, my life will never be the same. What can you do with this hesitant heart, Lord?

Prayer

Lead me gently, O Lover of my soul.
Take my heart, Lord, and give me Yours!

Call to Action

Listen to “Deep in Love with You,” by Michael W. Smith. Consider singing it to the Lord.
What other songs can help us offer our hearts to the Lord or express our love for Him? Share those in the comments below.