The Barn Door

I found myself really struggling with church the way I had been doing it. I was beginning to realize that I had been "doing" church—I wasn’t "being" the church. I realized that so many of the older, traditional denominational churches were stagnant and dwindling to non-existence across the countryside—across the country. It was about this time that I awoke, once again, with fresh images in my mind and an inkling as to what it meant . . .

At the farm where we raised our kids, there was a classic, gambrel roofed barn—red with white trim. The inside had been modified to accommodate large pieces of farm equipment. The center of the hay loft had been cut out leaving the middle of the barn lofted all the way to the roof. The two front doors were massive and swung open, difficult to move once the grass grew up around the base. We opened them in the spring and didn’t close them again until the fall.

In my dream, one of the hinges to these giant doors had broken and the door was dangling precariously. I intended to fix it myself when I realized there was no way I could do that. If the door became dislodged, I could be crushed or seriously hurt! There was no way I had the strength to do it on my own. In the dream, I realized that I would need to wait until my husband, my son, and my son-in-law arrived. They would be stronger and able to help me fix the door.

Upon awakening, I realized the broken door represented the church at large. The church was broken. As much as I wanted to fix it, I could not do it on my own. Others would be showing up on the scene to help. I was to wait for help to arrive. While it would seem logical (and clearly true) that God could/would be the one to help—the meaning of the vision at the time seemed clear to me that other people would be drawn into the effort I was being called to. I wasn't sure exactly where I was headed, or who I would meet along the way, but it was the beginning of realizing the true meaning of church—and there were no walls involved . . .

“For just as each of us has one

body with many members,

and these members do not

all have the same function,

so in Christ we, though many,

form one body, and each member

belongs to all the others.”

Romans 12:4-5 NIV

“For where two or three are gathered

in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 18:20 NIV

“Not neglecting to meet together,

as is the habit of some,

but encouraging one another,

and all the more as you

see the Day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:25 NIV

“That which we have seen and heard

we proclaim also to you,

so that you too may have fellowship

with us; and indeed our fellowship

is with the Father and with

his Son Jesus Christ.”

1 John 1:3 NIV