The Door Of A Man

A man sat in his living room gazing around the room
and thinking of the wonderful things he had obtained
in life. He looked at the furniture and thought of how
pretty it matched the decor on the walls and blended
with the beautiful soft carpet below his feet.

He looked to the door across the room. It was white
and not stained, then his mind drifted as he thought of
all who had come through his door. He wondered if it
had been as open to others as it should have been,
and should there be more stains from warm hands
gripping the side as it would close?

He realized at one time in his life he would tend to shut
out the world as he came to his abode in the evening.
It was like a refuge for him and he told himself, that part
was good at times.

Then he realized his front door was much like the door
to his heart. The times he had shut out the world, he was
shutting out others and living only for himself. This made
him feel lonely as he began thinking only about himself.

Then one day he did not hear the knocks and the door
chimes that once had been a daily occurrence and soon
it made him stop to see who he had become.

He saw there were no smiles in his life and life had
taken on a repeated action day in and out. He searched
deep inside his heart door and found who he needed to
become. His door started opening up as he took on a
new view of a world to love, to care for, and share with.

As he got up from his recliner, he made his way to the
porch. He sat down in his chair and felt the soft breeze
upon his cheek, then a smile came over his face. He
glanced at the outside of that door and saw his
grandsons finger marks when he was so small. He
trailed up the door and found smudged marks repeatedly,
upon one another. Those marks were from his daughter
holding his precious granddaughter.

The sight of that outside door brought thanks to the very
core of his soul. A feeling of love that gripped his very
being, not only for his family, but others as well. He
realized his purpose in time to change the man who he
once was. Now those that come with dirty hands or
clean, are all welcome. They come to visit, to talk, and
commune with a man that has become wise from
listening to his spirit within.

So it is with our lives, our hearts door is much like our
front door. Both are who we are. Let us all be mindful
of our closed doors.

© 1999 Donald D. Campbell