In the Mimosa Tree : I "See" Your Boundary and I "Raise You" a Wall!

Boundaries are an important part of life. We have to know where our territory is and where it isn’t. Within our own territory, we have authority to have dominion for God’s purposes. We steward it and how we manage what we have been given is our gift to God who gave it the first place.

At some point, we can confuse stewardship with ownership. When we forget that we are just passing through and we try to establish some kind of self-kingdom, we are sure to fail—or at the very least, be miserable with our results even though it may look prosperous.

When it comes to our personal lives, not possessions, this is especially tricky. When people violate our personhood by abuse and with the disrespect of control, we can become desperate for that to not be repeated.

Many of us have had people cross our personal and emotional boundaries to the point that we have shut down access. Since the reasonable boundaries of mutual respect were not honored, we build a wall.

Land boundaries are often invisible but their reality and presence are understood and respected. Isn’t it funny when you see a neighbor mow their yard EXACTLY to their boundary line? It is an invisible boundary, but it is noted and observed.

Land boundaries are permeable. We can cross into another’s property and they into ours… as long as there is respect. Disrespect or offend that trust – and watch how fast a privacy fence goes up!

We live in a society of people who self-protect in a lot of different ways. Trust has broken down and fences have gone up. I can remember a time when ‘cyclone’ fences were popular—and then someone came up with the solution of inserting those plastic strips that can be woven through the chain link to restrict what can be seen.

Emotional boundaries are no less real. Avoidance of community and relationship are skills gained after the experience of having one’s life invaded by people who were not invited or took advantage of our openness.

“Well, fine. That reasonable boundary was ignored. Time for you to hit the wall!”

I am not saying we should unquestionably trust everyone—but to snap to the extreme and trust no one is not the answer.

God help us pull down the walls and have neighborly fences. You know, the kind we used to see in old TV shows where people would meet at the fence and chat about their lives… and then eventually begin meeting for coffee… and then backyard BBQs?

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a fortified city; and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.” (Proverbs 18: 19)

So many are offended in life. An offense is a case built and protected by the conclusion of the offended. That is a tough exterior to break through. It is a wall.

And then the most peculiar wall of all is when someone is offended on behalf of someone else’s offense! This is someone who has seen another person go through something and has picked up the offense and ‘made it their business’ to support the offense!

Sounds a lot like meddling, doesn’t it? Don’t you just love a meddling neighbor? Hahaha Well, some people do—as long as you buy into their offenses and help them build a case against someone else. Ugh.

Proverbs 26: 17 "He who, passing by, stops to meddle with strife that is none of his business is like one who takes a dog by the ears."

Years ago, the Lord told me, “If you cross a fence to pick up an offense, you are trespassing for sure!” I was all twisted up at the time on behalf of a friend who had shared a wrong she had suffered. I soon saw that it wasn’t my battle and I was NOT to help her build a wall.