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=Video Transcript= | =Video Transcript= | ||
I Stand by the Door | '''I Stand by the Door''' by Sam Shoemaker | ||
by Sam Shoemaker | |||
I stand by the door. | :''I stand by the door. | ||
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out. | :''I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out. | ||
The door is the most important door in the world - | :''The door is the most important door in the world - | ||
It is the door through which men walk when they find God. | :''It is the door through which men walk when they find God. | ||
There is no use my going way inside and staying there, | :''There is no use my going way inside and staying there, | ||
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I, | :''When so many are still outside and they, as much as I, | ||
Crave to know where the door is. | :''Crave to know where the door is. | ||
And all that so many ever find | :''And all that so many ever find | ||
Is only the wall where the door ought to be. | :''Is only the wall where the door ought to be. | ||
They creep along the wall like blind men, | :''They creep along the wall like blind men, | ||
With outstretched, groping hands, | :''With outstretched, groping hands, | ||
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door, | :''Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door, | ||
Yet they never find it. | :''Yet they never find it. | ||
So I stand by the door. | :''So I stand by the door. | ||
The most tremendous thing in the world | :''The most tremendous thing in the world | ||
Is for men to find that door - the door to God. | :''Is for men to find that door - the door to God. | ||
The most important thing that any man can do | :''The most important thing that any man can do | ||
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands | :''Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands | ||
And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks | :''And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks | ||
And opens to the man's own touch. | :''And opens to the man's own touch. | ||
Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die | :''Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die | ||
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter. | :''On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter. | ||
Die for want of what is within their grasp. | :''Die for want of what is within their grasp. | ||
They live on the other side of it - live because they have not found it. | :''They live on the other side of it - live because they have not found it. | ||
Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it, | :''Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it, | ||
And open it, and walk in, and find Him. | :''And open it, and walk in, and find Him. | ||
So I stand by the door. | :''So I stand by the door. | ||
Go in great saints; go all the way in - | :''Go in great saints; go all the way in - | ||
Go way down into the cavernous cellars, | :''Go way down into the cavernous cellars, | ||
And way up into the spacious attics. | :''And way up into the spacious attics. | ||
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is. | :''It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is. | ||
Go into the deepest of hidden casements, | :''Go into the deepest of hidden casements, | ||
Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood. | :''Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood. | ||
Some must inhabit those inner rooms, | :''Some must inhabit those inner rooms, | ||
And know the depths and heights of God, | :''And know the depths and heights of God, | ||
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is. | :''And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is. | ||
Sometimes I take a deeper look in, | :''Sometimes I take a deeper look in, | ||
Sometimes venture a little farther; | :''Sometimes venture a little farther; | ||
But my place seems closer to the opening . . . | :''But my place seems closer to the opening . . . | ||
So I stand by the door. | :''So I stand by the door. | ||
The people too far in do not see how near these are | :''The people too far in do not see how near these are | ||
To leaving—preoccupied with the wonder of it all. | :''To leaving—preoccupied with the wonder of it all. | ||
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door, | :''Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door, | ||
But would like to run away. So for them, too, | :''But would like to run away. So for them, too, | ||
I stand by the door. | :''I stand by the door. | ||
I admire the people who go way in. | :''I admire the people who go way in. | ||
But I wish they would not forget how it was | :''But I wish they would not forget how it was | ||
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help | :''Before they got in. Then they would be able to help | ||
The people who have not even found the door, | :''The people who have not even found the door, | ||
Or the people who want to run away again from God. | :''Or the people who want to run away again from God. | ||
You can go in too deeply, and stay in too long, | :''You can go in too deeply, and stay in too long, | ||
And forget the people outside the door. | :''And forget the people outside the door. | ||
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place, | :''As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place, | ||
Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there, | :''Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there, | ||
But not so far from people as not to hear them, | :''But not so far from people as not to hear them, | ||
And remember they are there too. | :''And remember they are there too. | ||
Where? Outside the door— | :''Where? Outside the door— | ||
Thousands of them, millions of them. | :''Thousands of them, millions of them. | ||
:''But — more important for me — | |||
One of them, two of them, ten of them, | :''One of them, two of them, ten of them, | ||
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch, | :''Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch, | ||
So I shall stand by the door and wait | :''So I shall stand by the door and wait | ||
For those who seek it. | :''For those who seek it. | ||
"I had rather be a door-keeper..." | :''"I had rather be a door-keeper..." | ||
So I stand by the door. | :''So I stand by the door. | ||
Sam Shoemaker (1893-1963) served as a pastor in New York City and Pittsburgh. He was instrumental in establishing the spiritual foundation for Alcoholics Anonymous, particularly the need to turn to God as a way of coming out of alcoholism. Pastor Shoemaker wrote this poem toward the end of his life as an apology for his ministry. | Sam Shoemaker (1893-1963) served as a pastor in New York City and Pittsburgh. He was instrumental in establishing the spiritual foundation for Alcoholics Anonymous, particularly the need to turn to God as a way of coming out of alcoholism. Pastor Shoemaker wrote this poem toward the end of his life as an apology for his ministry. | ||