What's a Door?

August 15, 2022

My wife and I subscribe to several home improvement magazines. The ones we like are dedicated to a “farmhouse” style. Old furniture is repurposed, unmatched chairs share the same dining table, and flea market finds are highly prized.

I’ve been amazed with the fascination people have with old doors. Ones with several panes of glass are hung on the wall, each pane artistically painted, making a mini-art gallery. Solid doors become tables or tops of kitchen islands. Some old doors are cut into pieces to make a rustic cabinet.

Antique doors are selling at record prices.

It’s not hard to recognize a repurposed door.

I guess I’m out of touch. I was brought up to believe doors were made for walking through. When I look at a door I don’t immediately start asking myself, “What else can I use this for, instead of for walking through?”

Windows are being used the same way. An old window, salvaged when replaced by one that’s more modern, becomes a decorative piece in a country home.

This all reminds me that people don’t recognize God’s open doors. Maybe there is a new endeavor the Lord wants a person to step into and they don’t recognize the opportunity. They just see a pretty door, not thinking that doors are meant for walking through.

It also reminds me of the third chapter in Malachi, where God says if we’ll give him a tenth of all we have, he will open windows in heaven and pour out blessings on us. Would we recognize blessings if they weren’t monetary? Would we recognize the connection between giving and a freshly blessed life?

Doors and windows have an original purpose. They can be very useful.