The Office Door War

Julie has been a part of my life for a long time. She is the mother of one of my best friends. She was the "mom" on my mission trip crew. She is even the only person in this world that can out-cough my mom. Julie is also the reason why I can't go in to work on Mondays.

You see, Julie is the financial secretary here at Christ Church, and we share an office. Thank goodness we don't share a desk or I think I would have to work at a pew in the sanctuary. Anyway, with the finance "office" aka desk & computer in the same room as the youth desk & computer Monday mornings are tricky if I'm around because that is when she needs to concentrate on reviewing all of the financial information for the week.

This "conflict" has led to numerous go-rounds about who's office it really is. Every time Julie comes into the office now, regardless of what day of the week it is, I always make a show of packing up my stuff and saying "I have to leave now, I'm now in the finance office." Luckily, Julie is a great sport about all of this and plays right along.

A couple weeks ago, I changed the plates on the door around because they are mounted one above the other "Youth" and "Finance." I started placing the finance plate above the youth, and Julie keeps changing them back.

All too often I feel like I am doing the same thing with the door of my heart. When I am in "youth pastor" mode I make sure I get to my heart's door and put "Jesus" in the top slot and move "Jon" to the bottom. Way too often though, after I am out of "Youth" mode, and am at home, out with friends, driving in traffic, or whatever situation I get in I very quickly change the plates around so that Jon is back above Jesus. Why do I do that?

I have screwed up way too many times in my life, and so have you, to keep placing myself back on top! The more I stay connected everyday to my Father though I find that my stays on the top of the "Office Door War" are both less frequent and shorter in duration. Ultimately I long for the day when "Jon" is permanently nailed into place on the door below Jesus, and my wife, and others, and yes, even Julie. Where is your name plate on the door of your heart?