When my family got our first television (did we call it TV back then?), it was pretty exciting. I don’t know how old I was, maybe 11, but my brother was older. One day, our parents decided we could be home on our own for an evening. Heading out they told us, “Remember your bed time…it’s Friday night, but you need your rest. Don’t stay up late!”
Obviously, the two of us made a plan. At 10 p.m. we turned off all lights, sat as close as possible to the very small black and white screen, and took turns standing at the nearest window to watch the street for headlights. I don’t remember what was on TV, how late we were up, or who saw the approaching car, but I remember the flurry of action. Turning the TV off, we dashed to our rooms. Pulling the covers over my head, I heard the front door open.
A few moments later, my parents were at my bedroom door whispering, “Anyone awake in there?” Getting no response, they left and I thought all was well.
Minutes later, the bedroom door opened again. This time my Dad said gently, “If you are so sound asleep, why is the top of the TV still so warm? But we’ll pretend you’re asleep.”
My brother and I hadn’t realized that in that era of TVs, the warmth of the electricity warmed up the top of the set—but our parents had the TV (and us) all figured out.
The next day, we sheepishly told our parents “it was so fun to see what was on.”
Then my mother said what we didn’t expect, “I don’t want you up late, but the next time, throw the door open and tell us to hurry up and come in to join you. We like to be with you!”
My brother and I were pretty thrilled…until she said, “but we’ll be home sooner after this.”
What stuck with me the most? What I may have known but didn’t fully realize: My parents wanted and enjoyed time with us! The next time we were left alone, my brother and I again stayed up, again watched for headlights. But this time we quickly switched on all the lights, threw open the door and said, “Hurry up and come on in!”
Our parents laughed, then kindly watched TV for a bit with us. It was a family time to remember.
As we wait for the calendar season of spring, we are in the church season of Lent. This is a time in which Christians prepare for Easter Joy by recalling the Suffering of Christ, by serving others in his name, and by eagerly awaiting Christ’s arriving.
One of the Bible verses we read is Luke 12:36 “Have your lamps lit…be like those who are waiting to open the door…”
There is a sense of readiness and welcome, of invitation to us by God, and by us to God; a sense of opening the door and extending the welcome to others, that they too may realize the good news of love that surpasses all we expect. Lives are fuller when more are invited in so God draws us into inviting others, that we together flourish more fully as together we realize God’s welcome.
May this Lenten time be one in which you ponder God, serve others, give and find invitation, worship, and above all know that Christ eagerly throws open the door!
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Pastor Kris Garey, Trinity Lutheran Church, Hovland.
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