Sunday Stories October 30, 2016

Haughty to Humble

Human ingenuity and innovation has brought convenience to a time we proudly call “The Modern World.” I look around my house and think, “I’m so glad I have _____ .” (Fill in the blank). But of all the things I like and think I couldn’t live without, door hinges top my list. Don’t laugh. Consider, they bring living to a whole new plane. I have doors that swing in, out, up, down. Whatever I need a door to do, this genius of engineering makes possible. Best of all, when I bolt my exterior doors, the hinges on the inside assure the door isn’t going anywhere or letting anyone in except that I allow. Many years have come and gone and I have never had to oil, adjust or maintain any door hinges.

There was a time in my youth when I was an arrogant brat. It’s true. It has been confirmed by my older brother and two younger sisters and during holiday gatherings, evidence is once again presented lest I forget. (Don’t worry about me though, I’ve got the goods on them too.) However, there came a time for my pride to become humility, and for me to grow a servant’s heart.

One Sunday morning I was called to play the piano for hymn singing and offering. I thought I did an outstanding job but after worship no one, not a soul, acknowledged my talents or performance. Neither did anyone say, “Thank you.” I was appalled. Walking through the church with my pastor/father after the last parishioner left, turning off lights and picking up discarded bulletins, I announced that I was never again going to offer my musical talent to such an ungrateful people and I shared my disappointment in the absence of praise and adoration.

Dad stopped, raised his eyebrows and looked over his glasses at me. There was a very loud silence and then he pointed to the doors separatiing the sanctuary from the vestibule. He said, “Gretchen, do you see those doors?”

I quietly replied, “Yes dad.”

“Have you ever given thought to why they work so nicely providing the service we need?”

“No dad.”

Dad drew me closer and brought me into awareness of THE DOOR HINGE.
“Gretchen, no one ever gives a second thought to the hinge unless it fails, yet we couldn’t make it without them. The fact that no one noticed you, meant you did what you were supposed to do with great proficiency and brought worship to the place it was meant to be.”

“Yes dad.”

“Gretchen, God needs His people to be like door hinges.”

“Yes dad.”

Pride connects our hearts to the things of this world, unconditional, selfless love through service brings us into the presence of God.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve
others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Peter 4:10

Love,

Gretchen