Open Doors Connect Us To God And Others
Open doors connect us to God and others, often in surprising ways. These connections can fill a life with greater peace, joy, and fulfillment.
While in New York one year, I photographed dozens of doors–-open doors, closed doors, doors in the country, doors in the city, doors on homes, doors on churches. Doors have always been immensely fascinating to me.
Franz Meyerheim, Public Domain
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A Lesson About Open Doors
One Christmas season, I learned a lesson about open doors I hope never to forget.
Open Doors And Uncomfortable Questions
The lesson began with the ring of my doorbell. The sound catches me off guard, as I am not expecting visitors. I answer the door and am greeted by a young family; they are new to the neighborhood. They cheerfully place a plate of goodies in my hands and wished me a Merry Christmas. Then came the dreaded question: Do you have plans on Christmas Day?
I did, in fact, have plans. Given that I would be alone that day, my plans were to rest and relax as much as possible, and I was very much looking forward to it. But, of course, resting and relaxing sounds like “no plans” to others, so they are quick to invite me over for Christmas dinner. I hesitate, though they seemed genuinely eager for me to join them. I hesitate because I know dinner at 3:30 pm will interfere with my plans to relax. What will become of the nap I’d hoped to take that afternoon? I wonder.
After a long, uncomfortable pause, I thank the family for the invitation and tell them I will get back to them. That night, I consider what a wonderful opportunity this would be to get to know my new neighbors. Few things encourage meaningful connection better than gathering around a dinner table for food and conversation. So the next day I accept their offer to join them for Christmas dinner.
Another Genuine Invitation
A few days later, my doorbell rings again. Once again, a family stands on the other side offering Christmas treats and asking uncomfortable questions–-this time, Do you have plans for Christmas Eve?
I hesitated, as I did before, though six pairs of eyes eagerly await my response. And just like before, I later accept the invitation, after reflecting on the genuineness of their invitation.
I attended Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners with these families, after getting in a short nap, and enjoyed myself very much. The conversation flowed freely and I feel as though I made new friends.
To join others around the table, is, in my view, a sacred experience that connects one to others in ways that attending church, or waving to someone in passing at the grocery store, can never do.
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A Repaired Door
Connection requires effort– yes, even for individuals like myself who are passionate about the topic of connection. This reminder came in handy when someone recently offered to repair our broken shed door.
Hmmm…another door.
It is not always easy to accept help. At the same time, it is not always convenient to offer service to another. I believe that both offering service and accepting help require a bit of both courage and selflessness. With that in mind, I muster up my courage and gratefully accepted the offer for help.
The day after Christmas, a small crew of men show up at my house, eager to lend a hand. Serving others fills the soul of both giver and receiver with emotions that are difficult to put into words–-emotions that are reserved only for such experiences.
The Wedding Feast Door
As I reflect on the encounters I had with doors this Christmas season, my thoughts turn to yet another door–-the door in the story of The Ten Virgins.
The Bible teaches that, while ten virgins stood outside the door waiting to enter the wedding feast, only five were prepared with enough oil to be let inside. These five had done the work and preparation necessary to fill their lamps with oil. Their lamps were aglow, surrounding themselves and others with light.
The five who did not made sufficient effort to fill their lamps with oil stood in darkness. They are not invited into the wedding feast. To them the Savior said, with what I imagine was great sadness, “I never knew you”, meaning, “Ye never knew me. Ye know me not.”
David A. Bednar taught: “The phrases ‘Ye never knew me’ and ‘Ye know me not’ should be a cause of deep spiritual introspection for each of us. Do we only know about the Savior, or are we increasingly coming to know Him?”
I cannot think of a single person who truly knows the Savior, who does not also know and love his neighbor.
To know about the Savior and to know about our neighbors will never be enough. We must be increasingly coming to know them.
We can come to know our neighbors by:
First, becoming aware of them;
Second, listening for impressions that come to our mind about how we can reach out to them;
Third, acting immediately on the impressions we receive.
Invitation to Open Doors
As we go about our days, may we each increase our efforts to connect with our Savior, and with those around us. Let us do so on the “in between” days leading up to our Sunday worship services.
Connecting with others, and being willing to open doors, adds oil and light to our lamps in preparation for the greatly anticipated Wedding Feast, where we will be invited to enter through a door, and join the Savior and His followers around a table, in a sacred act of true connection.
Scripture Memorization
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
Conclusion: Ways To Take Actions
- Pray for opportunities to serve
- Involve yourself in your neighborhood
- Read the Parable of The Ten Virgins and record your thoughts in your journal
- Consider opening doors by including others in your family traditions on occasion
- Display an ancient clay oil lamp to remind you to add spiritual oil to your lamp daily
- Accept an invitation that is extended to you, though it may be out of your comfort zone
- Receive inspiration from the stories found in the book Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation.
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