Posted by Mike O on: 07.12.2007 /
When I was growing up, we had a saying we would use when someone was blocking our view of the television … “You make a better door than a window.”
Many years ago, I tried my hand at songwriting. I went through a period where it came fairly easy to me, and one I was working on but never finished was called “Casting Shadows.” It was based on these two verses from scripture:
John 9:5 - While I am in the world, I am the light of the world
Matthew 5:14 - You are the light of the world.
It occured to me that Jesus Christ was the light of the world while he was here (and still is for those who believe in him), but now that he’s gone, his followers are. Or to personalize it … I am.
The picture my song tried to paint was of a person standing in front of a picture window looking out at a beautiful summer day, just soaking up the light and the heat. And behind him is a small child, standing in his shadow … not able to “see the light.” (how clever is that?!?) Oh, the light was there all right, but was being blocked by someone else.
It followed that in order for the child to enjoy the light of the day, he had to go around the person in the way of the light, because that person was “casting shadows.”
The only lyric I remember from the song is this one …
Does the light of His life shine into mine, and through mine to the lives of others? Or does His light just shine into mine and then stop, and I start casting shadows?
Do I make a better door than a window?
I heard a new song on Christian radio the other day that starts out with a sound bite of someone saying (not a direct quote), “the main thing standing in the way of people coming to Christ is Christians.” I know it’s not true in every case, but it’s true too often.
Look at this post about the pope a couple of days ago — door? or window?
Look at Jerry Falwell - Door or window?
And there are positive examples, too. Look at Rev. Leuking - door or window?
Look at Mother Theresa. Door or window?
My goal is to be a better window, casting as few shadows as humanly possible. And when I see myself “casting shadows,” to get out of the way until I can make it right and be the window Christ wants me to be.
Who are some of the Christians that you have known personally (maybe “experienced” is a better word?), and did they make better doors or windows for you?
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Comment by: Julie Marie
1 07/12/07 4:12 AM | Comment Link |I don’t have time to give a thoughtful answer this morning Mike, but I wanted to post a quick note to say I think this is a nice analogy!
Comment by: Jeff Nelson
2 07/12/07 6:47 AM | Comment Link |Thanks for reminding me to get out of the way and let Him work through me. Lately I have been doing my own thing and allowing the world around me suck me in.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
3 07/12/07 7:41 PM | Comment Link |Speaking of Rev. Lueking, here’s his latest (published yesterday) Before Truth and Life, There is the Way
I think he’s probably a window for lots of people.
Comment by: Casting Shadows | Ebay Selling Tips
4 07/12/07 11:15 PM | Comment Link |[...] It occured to me that Jesus Christ was the light of the world while he was here (and still is for those who believe in him), but now that he’s gone, his followers are. Or to personalize it … I am. (more…) [...]
Comment by: Brendon
5 07/13/07 4:09 PM | Comment Link |An inspiring post, I think this reflects more truths and leads more people to Christ than a hundred argumentative messages
Comment by: Mike O
6 07/13/07 7:24 PM | Comment Link |Thanks. Sometimes I wax philosophical.
Comment by: Mike O
7 07/16/07 5:49 AM | Comment Link |I finally got around to reading An Atheist’s Journey(http://off-the-map.org/atheist/2007/07/03/an-atheists-journey/), and thought it was intersting how it could apply to this question. I wonder how much the way different people handle spiritual questions/situations impacts the journey we take towards/away from closely-held positions, whether Christian or atheistic.
Julie Marie made a statement somewhere (I think it was on the pope link … can’t remember) that said something to the effect of “who can understand the mysteries of God.” And I wonder if we base our understanding/perception of God more on how others have represented it than we realize? Which brings me back to my “door or window” question.
This may be getting a little too zen, but do we believe what we believe because we believe what we believe, or is it because we don’t believe what someone else believes? Or because we don’t want to be like what we see when we see how their beliefs are actualized in their real life? How much of a role does the way Christians behave play in whether or not atheists believe there is a god?
I know I’ve heard things like “you can’t even agree amongst yourselves” and “if you call yourself Christians, why don’t you do what Jesus did” and stuff like that.