You leave this scene somehow re-energized to face the mundane, the fear, the cynicism that lace your everyday world. Is it important to keep your heart melted? I tell this true story to say a resounding YES:
As a principal, I copyrighted a discipline system called REWARD PLUS and peddled this system as a vendor at a middle school conference in Portland, OR. An assistant principal from a tough CA school walked right up to my booth and asked pointblank, "What do you do with outlaw children?" Without any forethought, I said, "Come back tomorrow and I'll tell you."
Now where that promise came from may never be known, but that night I remember thinking, "Okay Lord, I need some help here. What DO you do with outlaw children?" Thankfully, and just as mysteriously, came an answer: Melt their hearts.
We all have outlaw hearts. It is more natural to be selfish than selfless. It is easier to talk (about ourselves) than quietly listen. Greater is the temptation to indulge carelessly than to impose self-restraint. So maybe the gift to ourselves is to ponder what melts our hearts and go there...often. The outlaw inside us is tamed each time and we feed that strength so vital to a better life.
