I have seen a lot of tears this week.

They are signs of so many deep and personal things: 

revelation, repentance and rescue, weariness, sorrow and suffering.

“I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears” – 2 Kings 20:5

I collect them in my memory, 

I soak my hard heart in them 

and I pour them over the sacrifices of prayer 

like the wine offerings of Israel’s priests.

Some tears rise up slowly like water from an overflowing well 

and others flowed like streams erupting from fortified banks.

Some were discovered only after approaching gently to the face of an overwhelmed mother. Her resolve to be “ok” and “in control” was betrayed by a rogue tear slipping out of the corner of her eye, 

wiped away quickly with frustration at being exposed.

There were tears at the altars, hands upraised, faces wet with showers of living water quenching arid souls.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”-Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭8‬ ‭

Then the sobs that come from men clinging to me. 

Sons who haven’t heard a Father’s word of hope and blessing in so very long. 

Young men who crumple into your chest like long lost prodigals finally returning home.

Salty tears of trouble from verdicts of doom, danger or desperation…trembling terrors.

It’s difficult to carry the weight of weeping. 

They are a mystery of physics, 

how something so light on the cheeks, 

can feel so profoundly gargantuan in the soul.

All that was made of Earth came out from the waters of chaos 

and all that’s is remade from Heaven is birthed in sacred streams.

Ministry is wading through the rising rivers flowing from 

the Temple of God and like Ezekiel’s experience, 

it’s precarious and difficult to ford. 

One can drown in the floods if left to oneself. 

Thankfully Jesus meets us in the wild waters through the Word, prayer and worship. 

He rescues the rescuers too, 

and sees every tear that escapes or is held deep in the reservoir of our hearts and minds waiting for release.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” -Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬ ‭

Pastor Eric.