Between Exits and Entrances
We are all familiar with the saying, “When one door closes another door opens.” We may use those words to encourage someone who has just been through some kind of termination: the unwanted ending of a job, or a relationship, or the death of someone close to them.
I did not realize it but supposedly, in its original version the saying was longer than that: “When one door closes another door opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”
We are once again at that time of ending one year and beginning another one. As we do so, how much do we look back, and how much do we look forward? As we contemplate the year that is ending do we have regrets? Do we want to hold onto some things that this past year has given us? Or do we just want to “finish well” and close the door on 2018 and move on in anticipation of what doors may open for us in 2019?
Writer, Sarah Lightfoot, states: “Exits are part of our biological, emotional, and social trajectories, part of the fabric and shape of our life journeys, projecting us forward, helping us evolve as developing human beings. If we are able to successfully exit our present stage, place, or identity, we will be better able to see and seize the shape and opportunities of the next chapter.”
Thus she suggests an ending or an exit should be viewed as a prelude to something new: “A space that allows us time for reflection upon the shape of our life journey and a time for finding clues that suggest how to go forward. We can’t truly enter a new room, life phase, or year until we have exited the old one.”
In writing to the Philippian church Paul states his desire to “know Christ and the power of his resurrection, even sharing in his sufferings by becoming like him in death.” Then he adds: “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own…. This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of Jesus Christ.”
As we now stand between exits and entrances, on the threshold of a new year, may we say our good byes to the good and bad of 2018 and look forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward that goal of faithful living following the example of our Lord Jesus.
Pastor Wayne
I did not realize it but supposedly, in its original version the saying was longer than that: “When one door closes another door opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”
We are once again at that time of ending one year and beginning another one. As we do so, how much do we look back, and how much do we look forward? As we contemplate the year that is ending do we have regrets? Do we want to hold onto some things that this past year has given us? Or do we just want to “finish well” and close the door on 2018 and move on in anticipation of what doors may open for us in 2019?
Writer, Sarah Lightfoot, states: “Exits are part of our biological, emotional, and social trajectories, part of the fabric and shape of our life journeys, projecting us forward, helping us evolve as developing human beings. If we are able to successfully exit our present stage, place, or identity, we will be better able to see and seize the shape and opportunities of the next chapter.”
Thus she suggests an ending or an exit should be viewed as a prelude to something new: “A space that allows us time for reflection upon the shape of our life journey and a time for finding clues that suggest how to go forward. We can’t truly enter a new room, life phase, or year until we have exited the old one.”
In writing to the Philippian church Paul states his desire to “know Christ and the power of his resurrection, even sharing in his sufferings by becoming like him in death.” Then he adds: “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own…. This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of Jesus Christ.”
As we now stand between exits and entrances, on the threshold of a new year, may we say our good byes to the good and bad of 2018 and look forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward that goal of faithful living following the example of our Lord Jesus.
Pastor Wayne