Colour coded doors
By Laurel Pattenden
As everyone’s region changes Covid-19 colour code as quickly as the corner traffic light, I am always wondering what is open and what is not.
As we all long for the medical health units to grant us a “green” many doors remain closed to us as we navigate this pandemic. Walking along a city street there are closed doors everywhere. Some are closed simply because of their selected business hours, some are temporarily and some went out of business.
As the colours change, we are either opening up or closing down. It has been a long time since we have had the convenience of 24/7 retail. Even if we knock on these doors they will not open to us. Even my white hair no longer opens doors! It is hard to open a door for someone when you are six feet away!
Our own doors remain shut to the packages and mail left on our doorstep. Perhaps a brief wave to the postal worker or delivery service. I miss the small conversations at the door. I miss saying hello going into stores and other public places. We no longer celebrate exchanged greetings as frequently, a small compliment that lifts someone’s spirit and our own.
Besides all these closed doors, there are open doors we choose not to enter. Perhaps in an effort to lessen our exposure to the virus, or simply because we are realizing a new life style and no longer want or desire the same things. I was avoiding the door at the dentist’s office. Now not all avoidance is good, and I will now be opening that door in pain! Not all avoidance can be attributed to Covid!
Another door I have avoided is the hair cutters. That action is my protest stance to the pandemic. Take that, virus, I will grow my hair in defiance! Praying it will soon be over before I turn into an aged Rapunzel.
It is interesting how doors can change the direction of our lives. We have all encountered open doors and closed doors. I am sure if we could sit around a campfire, hours would pass by swapping stories about doors. Doors of all kinds. Houses, apartments, cabins and tents. Car doors, train doors, airport doors and cat doors.
It is written in Colossians 4:3 that “God will open doors”. I like to look at the rock rolled away from the tomb as an open door. A door that was opened for us that remains open. It is during times like this that I need to look inside, repeatedly, even if it is just for a peak to see that Jesus isn’t there.
This door on the tomb could not have been opened by us no matter how many hands pushed. Nor can it be closed by a virus. The door stands wide open Covid-19 or not. “Behold I have put before you an open door which no one can shut”. (Rev.3:8)
It is definitely a different kind of door and a door story than we are used too. It doesn’t matter if you live on a green, yellow, orange or red spot it stays open. Besides, most door stories are about someone going in. This one is about someone coming out to greet us. A much better door story!
Laurel is retired and likes to spend her time in her art studio.
(Featured photo: Laurel Pattenden, Open Door - Easter. Ink and coloured pencil.
Below: Laurel Pattenden, Easter)
