Stress, problems, frustrations, and disappointments are part of life. I know--this doesn’t sound like a post about gratitude. Hang in there with me. It will be worth a couple of minutes of your time. This may be something you needed to hear as much as I did.
Have you heard the adage, “When a door closes, look for a window”? I take this truth to heart in a very real way. I’m not one to give up easily.
When I encounter a closed door, I first ensure the door is truly closed. I try the doorknob more than once. Maybe jiggle the doorknob a few times to see if something will be shaken loose. Isn’t this the way many of us tackle problems and needs of life? Nurses are known to be experts in this area. We adapt. We’re the ones who can make a square peg fit into a round hole.
Try Knocking
But back to our closed door. I also knock--at least three times, steadily increasing the strength and volume of my knocking. After all, you don’t want to be rude. It can help if the door has a working Ring camera. You might be able to make a connection. But if you don’t receive an answer, remember you’re also potentially being recorded.
If I know the person behind the door, calling out his or her name may get the person’s attention. My neighbors will tell you this is true. They’ve heard me call my husband’s name with growing ferocity when my hands were loaded with bags of groceries I didn’t want to put down. And oh, yes…there’s also the knocking (not always gentle) with my right foot that usually follows the request to enter as I also call out his name.
Is There a Window?
Looking for a window is always my last option. I’m self-aware enough to know that dexterity is not one of my gifts. The mental image of me attempting to shimmy into a window is something I’d rather not keep as a lasting memory. I also prefer to avoid an additional trip to the hardware store if I accidentally break something. But walking around the house and knocking on windows is entirely possible. That is, if you know those who live inside. Being respectful of the boundaries of others is important…especially with strangers.
What happens when all our attempts to open the closed doors we encounter only results in pain and frustration? What if there’s another way to address our problems and obstacles? And how do we find a way out of the messiness that’s a part of life?
Oh, I am so grateful for the perspectives of others, especially when I can’t see another way. A simple truth spoken that suddenly makes everything clear. “They say when a door closes to look for a window. Why don’t we just use a key?”
Use the Key!
What ‘key’ have we been given? God. God who sees me, knows me, and pursues me in all of my glorious messiness. God who made a way for me and has given me purpose. God who is the source of my faith and hope.
I don’t have to do things in my own strength. I was never meant to carry burdens by myself (Matthew 11:28-30). I can trust God to open the doors to my heart and to speak truth over me (John 16:13). He will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6). He reminds me that I’m worthy of love and belonging (Romans 5:8). I’m an adopted daughter in his family (Ephesians 1:4-5). I can rest in him no matter what comes my way (Psalm 46:1-3, 10).
Christy Secor DNP, RN CDWF, is Nurses Christian Fellowship’s Spiritual Formation/Prayer Specialist.
My thanks to my dear friend, Olivia Basten, who shared this truth with me. You are an encouraging light in my life, and I am grateful.
Develop spiritual resilience with NCF’s free downloadable Bible studies. And check out the topic on our podcast, Following Jesus in Nursing.
