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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—
:''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.