One’s heart - a swinging door!

As we Move Forward Together, continuing our church wide series on love, I want to reflect upon the words of theologian, philosopher, and Civil Rights activist Howard Thurman. Thurman wrote, “To love is to make of one’s heart a swinging door.”

 Thurman’s words remind me of my maternal grandmother’s kitchen door in her North Carolina home. The kitchen was my grandma’s haven. It was where she did her best work making green beans, smothered turkey, and rolls from scratch. The opening of the kitchen had a bright yellow swinging door that made a creaky sound when opened and would continue to move back and forth even after we had walked through it. The image of this door conjures up feelings of connection between what is outside and what is inside. Even though grandma was in the kitchen preparing a feast, we were always invited in and if we needed her, she would make her way through that swinging yellow door. The image of this door conjures up feelings of ease. A gentle push to the door would swing it open for all to enter. Even a small child could enter the kitchen without effort. Interestingly enough as I was thinking about grandma’s bright yellow swinging door, I realized that swinging doors are never really closed. They are the essence of hospitality. There is an openness about swinging doors that you don’t find in panel, flush, pocket, French and even bi-fold doors.

 To love is to make of one’s heart a swinging door. And herein lies our invitation from the Holy Spirit. May we have hearts that are connected to one another; hearts that give and receive love with gentleness and ease; and hearts that are always open to the possibilities of joy, peace, and contentment that love affords us. In this way, we are obeying the command of God to “Love one another…” and witnessing to the world the great power of God’s love as evidenced in our lives. 

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah