Doors



DOORS



Doors. Webster says:  a usually swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed and opened.

I've been thinking about doors ever since I took these pictures in Brugge.

Doors can be beneficial.  They can act as barriers between us and things undesirable.  I've been thinking about the people in northern Japan and how they've been told to stay indoors to guard against radiation poisoning---how important it must be for them to have doors that are airtight.  I remember thinking as a child how important a strong door must have been for the three little pigs---never mind the brick.  If the door didn't hold against the huffing and puffing, it was all over!  I've spent enough winters in windy, cold Illinois to know that I wanted a good, strong, tight door.  Doors are beneficial.  They act as barriers between us and things undesirable.

Doors in our homes need to shut out the big bad things of the world as well---foul language, obscene gestures, cruelty, pornography, selfishness, and immodesty.  Spiritually tight Doors can stand against gossip, apathy, name-calling, infidelity, and belittling.  Our homes need to be safe havens.  No matter what is going on in the world, once we've entered the Doors of our homes, the negativity of the world should be non-existant, shut out.  

Doors not only keep undesirable things out, but they can keep good things in.  An inquistive toddler, an adventursome pet, an aged and forgetful parent have all benefitted from a good Door from time to time.

Doors can keep other good things in as well.  The time we spend with our families behind our Doors can create love, laughter, kindness, faith, trust, and hope.  Doors shut to the world at appropriate times can help a family develop unity, a strong work ethic, and traditions to last a lifetime.

However, Doors need to be opened sometimes---sometimes opened wide. 

There are those who need to enter our open  Doors to be cared for, both children and adults.  There are those who need to be nourished, both at our table and by words of kindness and testimony.  There are those who need to rest from the world in our homes, if but only for a few hours. 

Sometimes we need to knock at a closed Door and have the courage to step to the other side.  There could be opportunity there.  Opportunity to learn, to serve, to love, and to teach.  Opportunity to be out of our comfort zones just long enough to grow, to stretch, to morph into better human beings.

That's the trick about Doors.  We need to know when to stay behind them, alone with our families and all the good things that we have created there.  But...we need to know when and how long to open them wide and let others in, that we may both be enriched by our time together.  We need to know what and who to block out with our Doors and sometimes that's not only the obviously harmful things.  Sometimes we need to block out good things that can distract our families from things essential.   We need to know when to take that deep breath and open Doors of opportunity.  How do we do all this?

By opening another type of Door---the Door to inspiration.  As children of God, we can pray for guidance; and we are entitled to answers, for He has promised such.  The Doors of our mind and heart need to be open so the Holy Spirit can deliver those answers without hinderance.  Those Doors need to be flung wide so the ideas and plans and answers can come without delay so we can act, so we can move forward. 

Those Doors within our hearts and minds need to remain open as we go forth with these whispered answers and new found knowledge.  Our faith in Jesus Chirst will allow His grace, His enabling power to move through those Doors and into our lives without hinderance.  Through Him, we will be able to take our answers and fly.  We will be able to accomplish more than we dreamed, go further than we thought possible, make differences where we saw no hope.

 Doors.  Most intriquing.  Lots to ponder and think about.  Lots to open and shut, once we know.

Doors.