At first glance, it’s a door like any other. There’s a small window, maybe even a few steps before it, a doorbell or a knocker, the aesthetics don’t really matter. Regardless of what it looks like, there’s a door. Before it stands a person with their struggles, their grief, their loss and their pain and before them is… a door.
A door that’s simple but a sort that’s seen it’s fair share of grief. See, this door isn’t like every other door. Instead it’s a door that many people knock on, it’s also a door that people lack the courage to approach. But most importantly it’s a door that has seen countless people through it. Young and old, well and sick, happy and depressed, joyous and suicidal, rejoicing and mourning, this door knows no distinction. It merely swings on its hinges and calls you in.
But consider the family that live behind that door. Unlike the door, they are not merely there, they are not un-disturbed, they are not uninterested. Behind that door is a family who has welcomed in many people. Behind that door is a family that is imperfect, but has welcomed all people to take a seat.
Behind that door is a family who love all who knock and yet who regularly get ‘knocked’ by those who want their attention.
A Pastor’s door is not merely a piece of ornate wood. If it could speak it would tell the tale of hurting people who hurt others. It would tell the tale of an imperfect family held to standards far beyond what is humanly possible. It would tell the tale of an imperfect family, pointing imperfect people to a perfect saviour.
The door of a Pastor isn’t anything special, but it’s a door that often has trauma and struggles behind it that you’re unaware of. So as you stand next time and knock at that door, remember that many have gone before you and haven’t left the greatest of impressions.
The door to a Pastor’s house is wonderful, it’s an invitation and it’s a shield. An invitation to those who mourn but a barrier to those who seek to demolish.
As you next stand at that door, which are you? A friend that seeks to encourage and comfort or a person who seeks to destroy what the Lord has called a man and his family to do.
A Pastor’s door is a place of leave for many, but do not forget that for those who live behind it, that door can be a place that produces trauma and pain which cannot be shared among many.
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