If It Doesn't Open, It's Not Your Door

3 May 2017

There are a lot of sayings . . ."catch phrases" if you will . . . about doors:

• Where one door is closed, another will open.
• In the universe, there are things that are known and unknown; in between them are doors.
• If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
• Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.
• The doors will be opened to those bold enough to knock.

You'll probably spend your life hearing these things . . . usually when you're at a crossroad . . . trying hard to make a decision . . . or to help someone . . . someone who loves you will likely say them! You might even hear these words come out of my mouth if I'm still around!

Decisions are sometimes hard.

Here's the thing . . . if what you're trying to do is a continual uphill battle, it might be time to either:

A. Find another way to the top

or

B. Stop . . . maybe it just wasn't meant to be

Sometimes things just aren't meant to be . . . no matter how much you want or need! The problem is how to figure out the answer to the dilemma. Unfortunately, there's no litmus test . . . no strip of paper you can dip into the water to help you determine if you need to add an acid or a base . . . pool water is easier to deal with!

When you come to this door, you're going to have to use your gut instinct . . .

. . . sometimes it's best not to even try to pick the lock.

I've had a number of friends over the past few decades who married men . . . in spite of their flaws . . . hoping that after marriage, the men would change . . . succumb to their train of thought. But, unless someone is actually WILLING to change, there's nothing YOU can do to change their behavior. Most of these marriages failed because he wouldn't . . . or couldn't change, and she wouldn't . . . or couldn't accept his behavior as it was in the beginning.

I've known mothers and fathers who've struggled with a child's addiction to drugs or alcohol, and no matter what the parents do to help . . . tough love, rehab, police involvement . . . their kids continue down that dark path . . . sometimes all the way to their death . . . breaking hearts and shattering lives. The parents distraught . . . wondering WHAT else they could have done . . . when the answer is likely "nothing."

So Dean, don't force life . . . there are things in this life that if you have to MAKE it happen, then the value is decreased significantly. I only pray you learn the difference before you get caught up in something that's totally out of your control. And if you do get there, I pray that you place your trust in the fact that God is ultimately in control!

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."