Recently when Jack and I were buying smoothies to take to our daughter’s house when our granddaughter wasn’t feeling well, we waited for our order. When another customer carried her own large order toward the door, Jack moved quickly across the room in order to open the door for her. A woman waiting next to me looked at me and said, “You’ve got a good one!” while Jack returned to his place. I thought there was envy in her eyes as he made his way back.

The experience left a big impression on me. I thought of the hunger there is in the world for simple attentiveness and courtesy: Be kind and compassionate to one another…

(Ephesians 4:32) Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Then . . . I (Paul) will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the Gospel without being frightened in any way by those who appose you. (Philippians 1:27-28)

For thousands of years these words have been preached from pulpits around the world. Missionaries have carried them to every continent except Antarctica; and today we need these words and others from Scripture, more than ever before. St. Paul’s message of unity and of faith in the Gospel rings as loudly as when it was first written to the fledgling church in Philippi.

That a such a simple courtesy as opening a door for a woman laden with packages was a surprise, seems like a reflection on the busyness of our lives which becomes so great that the humanity of each other gets obscured in our many distractions. Here Paul doesn’t tell us quite how to disentangle ourselves from the teeming world around us, but Jesus gives these words: When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. . . for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. ( Matthew 6:6&8) These words precede the gift of the Lord’s Prayer to the disciples. Clearly the exit from modern confusion is in our room where we pray. It takes time to develop a regular prayer life, but Jesus indicates that his Father keeps appointments with us when we seek Him alone. When we substitute prayer for further engagement in our busy world, we find the haven that renews and clarifies our lives. It becomes second nature to help another, and to open a door for them, too.

Love in Him,

Prue