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=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.