TEAR

Tear (târ) v., tore, torn, tearing, n.-v.t. 1. to pull apart or in pieces by force; 2. to divide or disrupt; 3. to produce by tearing; 4. to injure by or as if by tearing; 5. to remove by force or effort ~Random House Webster's Concise Dictionary

         The very words “tear” – “rip” – “torn” – resonate violence. 

         In marriage, separation and divorce is a tear – like starting at the top of a piece of paper and ripping downward, dividing, leaving jagged, uneven edges.

         Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  ~Genesis 2:24

         When what was once whole is torn apart, it becomes incomplete.  At the place of tearing, there is a rawness, creating susceptibility to festering injury and/or infection until healing occurs.  Healing must take place -- whether emotional or physical.  Quite often we are left with permanent scarring -- an enduring reminder of a prior tear. 

         Tearing causes grief from loss, shedding of tears from the pain of separation regardless of reason.  As tears fall, healing begins. 

         In scripture, God’s children are likened to branches on a vine.  He is the vinedresser, gently pruning, cutting us back so that we become more fruitful. 

         I (Jesus) am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
         Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  ~John 15:1&2

         Our relationship with Jesus Christ is relative to a bridegroom and his bride.  Jesus is the bridegroom and we, his people “the church,” are his bride. 

         Divorce is not God's perfect will for us, though sometimes necessary.  (Jeremiah 3:8)

         A violent storm will tear limbs from trees, especially if the tree has been left unattended/unpruned.  Regular pruning lessens the chance of tearing even in the midst of a storm.  During a severe storm, large, top-heavy trees with weak root systems may not only lose branches but may be completely uprooted and destroyed. 

         Even so the storms of life wreak havoc in the lives of untempered/unpruned men. 

         Jesus is the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.  (Isaiah 58)

         In studying the exorcism of demons, tearing occurs as unwilling demons are forced to depart -- not wanting to leave their host.  As in such an exorcism there are times when tearing, separation, divorce -- whether from a husband, family member or friend -- is necessary for peace, sanity, survival. 

         If my people, which are called, by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ~2 Chronicles 7:14

         I see “land” encompassing the personal, family and generational, public, local and national foundations of our lives.