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Topic: Doors (04/05/04)
TITLE: Doors By Ruth Hamm 04/05/04 |
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Doors. The very word evokes a myriad of images in a person's mind. For the optimist, the sign on the door reads WELCOME, providing entrance to a land of adventure and opportunity! It sets their imagination in overdrive, envisioning new sights, sounds and even smells as they are transported into the excitement of the unknown.
For the pessimist, on the other hand, a door means fear. Even though the sign on the door is the same, their distorted vision interprets it to say DANGER. Just the thought of pushing open a new door conjures up images of failure and inadequacy. The imagination is also running, but it's not pulling up images of adventure. Instead they can feel their heart race, accompanied by all the sounds and images that fuel worry and fear.
Our imaginations were given to us by God to pre-play coming attractions. Worry or fear perverts this wonderful gift by pre-playing coming failures.
It takes courage to push on a new door, opening it just far enough for a sneak preview of what's in store. Facing the fear is a victory in itself, freeing us to enter a new field of endeavor or adventure. However, some doors need to be closed, and this also takes courage. Closing the door on an abusive relationship opens the door of opportunity for a healthy relationship.
There are many ways to close a door--gently, firmly, slamming the door, and even locking the door. It is always a good policy to close every door gently, for we never know who will walk through that door one day.
Life is a series of doors. What a shame it would be to reach the end of life and look back on a row of unopened doors, wondering what each held. Reaching the end of a lifetime brings us to the most important door we will ever face--the door to ETERNITY--a door that will automatically open. What's on the other side of this door is determined by whether or not we opened the door of our heart to Jesus who said, “I am the Door."
Ruth Hamm
April 5, 2004