This is a photo of one of the doors at the entrance to Heidelberg Castle in Germany.  It is huge and heavy and centuries old.  It is quite difficult to open!  We might need some help.

But walking through this door allows us a view of the entire city of Heidelberg which we could not see any other way.  It broadens our perspective.

Entering allows us to see what life was like inside the walls generations ago.  We could not have known without going through that door to the other side.

If we want to grow in knowledge, understanding, acceptance, and love we must enter the big heavy doors of our world that separate us from the other side.  If we open our heart as we open the door, we have the opportunity to grow in love.

One Sunday afternoon I went with a group from Montgomery UMC to Polunsky Unit Prison.  It is classified “death row”.  There were many heavy doors we entered to get in to the other side.  It was a place I had never been before.  We were guided to a large room with no windows.  Our eyes were wide open with curiosity and anticipation.  Our hearts were beating a little faster, leaning forward into a fearful unknown.  Suddenly big heavy doors creaked open and into the room filed large numbers of men in white. As they marched in, we all sat motionless and breathless.

A small group of the men in white sang and played guitars.  Then a few others stood before us, their hands naturally clasped behind their back as if they stood “at ease” rather than imprisoned. One by one they went to the microphone and spoke.  Volunteers who had led Bible Studies inside the prison had brought the word of God which changed the lives of these men.  They wanted to witness.

One man told his story.  He wept as he poured out the truth of his life. Finally I heard the words I will never forget….”I have never known love like this.  I NEVER KNEW LOVE!”, he said.  Imprisonment for these men had been a lack of love.  In a new life these walls could not contain, they had been set free.  It dawned on me that there was no light coming into that room from the outside.  But the inside of the room was filled with LIGHT, a light I had never witnessed in that way before.  I dared to enter the other side, and I grew in LOVE.  We all need love!

Questions to ponder…

Where are the barriers, walls, heavy closed doors in your world?

What might it mean for you to open a heavy door and find new perspective, new love on the other side?

Has this ever happened for you?

nk