A Gate with no Fence!

 

Sometimes in life, something pops up which startles you, or causes you to be curious. I have been driving by a gate for weeks now and I finally decided to stop and take a photo.

It is quite strange. It is a beautiful fence, recently crafted with lovely lights posted on the top. The wood seems to be carefully chosen, and the hinges are gorgeous, standing out in beautiful black. The odd thing about it, there is no fence. There’s a gate with no fence! Imagine that, and besides, the gate is open most of the time.

I came home and said, “Daryl you’re not gonna believe this, but there’s a house that has a gate with no fence. It’s magnificent. I have no idea why they put it there but what a great symbol for our lives. A gate with no fence. A gate that is open. It seems like a marvelous invitation to come in and see the treasures that await beyond its openness.”

Being practical, as my sweetheart Daryl is, he said to me, “Bonnie Lee, they don’t need a fence. All around the front of the property is a deep culvert. A car could never get over it without severe damage.” “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said. Here I thought it was this welcome invitation. Instead, it’s just a way to keep people out when it’s closed. “Well yes,” he said “that is probably true.” 

 I stopped the other day and took a photo of it because I couldn’t get it off my mind. Imagine my surprise when the house was for sale. At the end of the gate is a magnificent structure, a gorgeous house waiting to be filled with love and laughter.

 As I looked a little closer, I noticed that there was a sign posted right next to the open gate. If you look closely in the photo, or enlarge it, you can see it. It says ‘guard dogs on property. They will attack. Notify owner before entry.’ No way! Unbelievable! Who would put such a sign beside this lovely gate? I was astounded, but then I remembered that the house was for sale and maybe they just didn’t want people wandering around the property without an appointment.

But soon I began to think about my own life. The gate seemed like it was a symbol. I consider myself open, loving, welcoming, and my effort is for people to find a refuge with me, a place to call home. I like when people confide in me and find solace when we are together. I do have a reputation for complete strangers to tell me intricate details of their lives.

 But then that open gate with a deep culvert and the sign caused me to stop and think more deeply about my openness. Sometimes we say we’re open, but when a friend doesn’t agree with our political view, it’s almost as if we put our hands up and say ‘stop it I don’t want to hear it.’ What about the relative who we label as a tin hat, or conservative, liberal, or other such names that I can’t even write here. I’m not going to their picnic, we say, it’s just too hard. We don’t think alike and I can’t listen to their shenanigans.

 What about the person who plays very loud music in their backyard when I’m trying to have my quiet time? I stomp around and say ‘don’t they have any sense?’ Of course, I keep it to myself but my thoughts are so ugly. This morning Mother Theresa reminded me in my devotional that Christ lives in us and through us. Oh dear, I’m not a very good example of that when I have such thoughts am I? So, the gate has become a reminder to be more open, to take the sign of guard dogs away. (Possibly not even have guard dogs, but then again I live in a place of safety) Yes, my soul needs protecting sometimes from the meanness of the world, don’t get me wrong, but so often I shut the gate with a snap before I look deeply into the person’s eyes and hear the wounds of their souls. God forgive me. I was a pastor for many years, and I think about the ways we claim to be an open and welcoming congregation, but on Sunday mornings, do we talk to the newcomer? Well, a lot of the times we just chat with the people we already know. "It's the pastor's job to welcome visitors," we say. If someone’s theology doesn't quite align with our sensibilities, we make comments, ‘perhaps they’re not suited to us.’ That’s like having the guard dog sign there. God help us.

When I spend time meditating before Saint Francis in my garden each day, I’m reminded to love everyone to love all creatures, yes, even the spiders too, which scare the wits out of me; that’s a really hard one. I have a friend who loves spiders. I never quite understood it, but you know what, her spirit is like that too. I don’t know a person that she doesn’t love. Her invitations to parties and gatherings are always open.

So maybe the gate is there to give me a lesson in God's good welcome. May it be so for you today. Sending you my love with all my foibles, Bonnie Lee.