"I Stand by the Door"

We're looking at Psalm 84 this coming Sunday - very familiar on a couple of levels, one being the well-known (in some circles) contemporary Christian song, "Better is One Day" by Matt Redman, and the other the line "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness."  Both create memorable portals for me through which to enter into the world of this Psalm.  And of course, the opening two verses do the same thing: "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!  My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God."

There is a fabulous poem by someone named Samuel Moor Shoemaker entitled "I Stand by the Door" that starts out like this: I stand by the door. / I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out, / The door is the most important door in the world – / It is the door through which…[all] walk when they find God.
The poem goes on to explore the simple role of pointing others to where they might find God: serving as a doorkeeper in the house of God.

I found this in Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck's first Guide to Prayer book and it has captivated me since.  I will use it to help us enter into the sentiment of the Psalm on Sunday.  This is also a communion and family worship Sunday at Ft. Collins First UMC, and the Choir will be back for the traditional services, so it will be a celebrative day.

If you have any thoughts about being a doorkeeper for God or about a significant "day" you've spent in the house of the Lord - "better than a thousand anywhere else" - I'd be glad to hear from you.  Anything I receive and choose to share in the sermon is done anonymously, but please let me know if you'd rather I didn't even do that.  Thanks!

Blessings in Christ this week,

Steve
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