I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Isaiah  22:22

Some moments in life are unforgettable. The most “unforgettable” ones always appear in the midst of ordinary times. They come like shafts of sunlight breaking through morning fog.

Yesterday there was such a moment. Late in the afternoon I went to the food bank to check on the food supplies for next week’s distribution. Lying squarely in the middle of my desk was a set of five keys. Our builder Marc had left them for me.   They are the keys to the new food bank building on Deinhard Lane. Marc had changed the locks and was granting me access to Heartland Hunger’s new home. That’s when the moment hit and when the blessed shaft of light, the touch of the Holy Spirit, came through.

I picked up the keys, got into my car and drove home, tearful, filled with emotions I’ve not felt for a long time. The keys represented an amazing gift. How often does someone offer to build a fine, strong house, see it to completion and then when it is finished turn it over to you free and clear? And all for a place to feed the poor? Exactly, never! I can’t find the right words to be grateful. It’s very humbling to receive this blessing, knowing the cost to all involved.

I knew the project was close to being done and was expecting to move very soon. The board of HH&RC and all who volunteer have been   excited for weeks now. It’s been such a long time in coming and even longer for the vision given many years ago. Believing, hoping and walking out the vision hasn’t been easy, especially recently. But with each trial and attack of the enemy, God has proved Himself bigger, faithful and abundantly generous. Such thoughts all ran through my head when I held the five keys in my hand.

A key has two purposes. One purpose is to open a door and to walk into a room or building not knowing what lies within even when the room is very familiar. A key opens up to that which is always new, something which hasn’t yet happened.  It’s the key of access. Such is the key I hold in my hand, the future which God is already preparing for us as we unlock new doors to feed the poor, to teach children, to love the unlovable ones among us and to preach the Gospel of Jesus with our hands and with our words.

The second purpose of a key is to lock up a door and leave what is behind it. Sometimes it’s closed but for a little while and so we return repeatedly locking and unlocking the same door.   It’s the key of  learning, making mistakes, improving and growing. At times this key  allows  us to become  too comfortable with old ways and habits. It’s not only the key of familiarity, but of complacency.  It can become the worn down key  of success.  This too is the key I hold.  We’ve used it for more than six years to get into the food bank  every Wednesday afternoon and often in between.

Through circumstances the time comes when  we need  to lock a door for the last time and walk away.   Because of the generous gift we’ve been given,  that time is here.  The old key’s become useless.

I can’t wait  to  pick out one of the five brand new keys,  unlock  our new home, open the door and  look around for where God will show up “new every morning.”

EAG