We live in a world that is constantly putting people into boxes, identifying folks with labels that are given to them rather than ones that they are able to claim themselves.
This is a limiting reality, it limits us from being able to share our full identity without fear of judgment. It also limits us from being able to hear the full story of others without falling into these judgment traps ourselves.
The reason that the Kelseyville and Middletown United Methodist churches have been spending the month of September diving into the motto Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors is because we want to be active participants in shifting the patterns of limiting ourselves and others into places where we can celebrate one another’s full testimony.
Our final Sunday in September we will be looking at Revelation 3:20, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” We have talked a lot about the ways that we can open doors when we are in control of the situation. Whether that be throwing our doors open or knocking when we approach a door that is closed.
So how will we respond when it is our door that is being knocked on? How do we keep our response from limiting the narrative of those around us?
Opening doors is more than just letting people into communities of faith, it is about more than just saying that the doors are open and leaving it at that.
That is a good first step, it is a good place to start, and we cannot be satisfied with just that.
Opening doors is about being able to connect with those who come into places of worship and creating community. When we are able to stop limiting the narratives of ourselves and others to enter into communities of faith, that is when we will find transformation.
In order to do this, all of the pieces have to come together, including when we are asked to answer the knock on our own doors.
Melissa Hurley is Pastor at Kelseyville United Methodist Church and Middletown Community United Methodist Church. Please join us in Kelseyville at 9 a.m. or Middletown at 11 a.m. as we explore the call of Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors. All are welcome.
