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last month i posted an email devotional entitled "A Rock Feels No Pain" by John Fischer (refer back to 'desk cleaning'). at the time the devo didn't really coincide with anything specific going on with me at the time. but i wanted to comment on it now.

>> The philosophy of the song hinges on the words: "“If I never loved I never would have cried." It'’s all about protecting oneself from being hurt by removing oneself from what one perceives to be the source of the pain. I think we can all understand these feelings having been hurt by relationships and finding, even for a season, a certain consolation in being alone. But I think we also would agree that isolation is never the answer to this kind of pain. To love anyone is to be vulnerable and open to being hurt. Love and pain go together, and the only true answer to this dilemma is to welcome them both. <<

i guess what i have to say, is that this is sort of an idealistic view of relationships (but not entirely unrealistic). because if someone is hurting me, why would i keep on putting myself in a situation where i keep on getting hurt? i actually have done it. and i didn't feel all warm and fuzzy because i was being 'vulnerable and open to being hurt'. true, being vunerable and open is an essential part of developing a relationship. true, you can't isolate yourself every time you get burnt or hurt in a friendship or relationship. but, i also think there needs to be some healthy boundries, and if i need to remove myself from 'the perceived source of pain', cease to pursue certain people or stop being somebody's friend to avoid being unnecessarily hurt, i'll do it, i have done it before. usually it's not the easiest thing to do, but sometimes there are no other alternatives. anyhow, don't have much else to say on that one, other than thank goodness i have my Lord to keep me company during those tougher seasons in life.