The Door Needs to be Fixed

At the front of the 122 year-old sanctuary, behind the curtains, there is a door which leads to a small storeroom. It's a beautiful old door, beautiful not because it is fancy or pretty to look at, but because it is solid and well-constructed. The wood is good, and it has a porcelain doorknob.

However, the top hinge on the door is loose. The screws have pulled out of the woodwork, and as a result, the door doesn't hang straight. Try to close it, and the door bumps into the door frame.

Fortunately, the door isn't used much. That's a good thing, because as it is, it could fall off and hurt someone. It's a good, beautiful door, but with a loose hinge, it's dangerous.

That door needs to be fixed.

2,000 years ago, there was a carpenter who knew a thing or two about doors. He knew how important it was that they hang straight. He also knew a thing or two about people, and about God and God's teachings.

One day he was asked about which of God's teachings were most important. He answered, "Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. These are the most important commands. They are the hinges on which everything else hangs. No matter how good or beautiful the others may be, they are dangerous, and can hurt someone if they are not hanging straight from these two most important teachings."

I say again: that door needs to be fixed.