Behind Every Door
Some who read this will know that my family and I lived in Dexter, Missouri for eleven years. During those eleven years it was my privilege to preach for the church of Christ there, it was also my honor to work with one of the finest men I have ever known.
Dale Grissom’s office was right next to mine. He didn’t spend much time there, though. He would take care of what he thought was necessary there and then “hit the road.” He was not taking off to play golf, go shopping, etc. He was off to do what a true shepherd of God’s people needed to do. Dale was supported by the church as a “full-time elder.” He knew that shepherding could not be done in an office. He also knew that he needed to be in the homes of individuals in order to conduct those personal one-on-one Bible studies that were so dear to his heart.
During those times when both of us were in our offices, we spent what I still consider to be some real quality time in prayer and in conversation. I learned lessons then that I hope I will never forget and will do a better job of implementing in my life.
Over the years, I’ve repeatedly been reminded of the wisdom found in a statement he made to me time and time again. More often than I can remember, this good man with a heart for souls would say to me, “Jim, you can knock on any door in Dexter and there is some kind of problem behind that door.”
I haven’t lived in Dexter, Missouri for close to twenty-four years now. I’ve called the area in and around Paducah, Kentucky “home” during these years.
Would it surprise you to learn that I’ve found the same situation to exist in this area as well? Would you be shocked to learn that it is also true wherever you live?
As I’m typing these words, the news media seem to be obsessed with a pandemic and with violent protests occurring in a variety of places. We also are seemingly fed a steady diet concerning the problems and challenges of various powerful and “important” people and institutions.
We could get so interested in, and intrigued by, those stories that we forget the person in our neighborhood or congregation who is still struggling with the loss of a spouse or other family member. We may not know about or care much about the person down the street who can no longer work because of some things beyond his or her control. We could easily overlook that older person who is trying to bravely face the reality of death, but who is having trouble doing so. For some, divorce is much more than some sort of statistical study. It has affected them personally.
I could probably go on for pages and pages about various scenarios, but I think you get the idea. My friend, brother, and mentor was right. There is, in fact, some sort of problem behind every door.
It does no good for us to “put on a happy face” and act like our family has no problems. After all, each of our houses has at least one door, too.
It seems to me that it would be much better for each of us to be open and honest with one another and attempt to reach out to each other in somewhat the same way that our Lord reached out to the hurting, the disenfranchised, etc. during His time on the earth.
I don’t think that I just came up with that idea. I think I read something somewhat like that somewhere.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).
To Receive Every Article from A Legacy of Faith through Email for Free, Click Here
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
