The Double Heart Gate

By Bishop Leonard Fairley

One of the things that you will discover about your new bishop is that it only takes a small glory sighting to set my soul on fire. One such glory sighting happened in Charleston, while standing in the backyard workshop of Phillip Simmons, the great gate-maker. The beauty of his gates reflected something deep in my soul, especially his Double Heart Gate.

Seeing these gates reminded me of the words of W. Clement Stone, "Big doors swing on little hinges." Small choices and decisions can have large outcomes.

"Big doors swing on little hinges” reminds us that sometimes the most transformative changes in life do not come from big, extraordinary ideas but from the still, small voice of Holy Imagination. God can, and often does, use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

We are called to be big gates that swing on small hinges. We are vessels of the mysteries of faith.

"But we have this treasure in clay jars (earthen vessels) so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Great gates swing open on small hinges. I pray that the gates of every local church and institution in the South Carolina Annual Conference will swing open on the hinges of God's grace, love, peace and justice. In this liminal season, I pray we will not become gatekeepers who are unwilling to open the gates of God's sheepfold. Let us swing open the gates so the least, the last and the lost can experience the transformative love and salvation of Jesus Christ.

It is always a danger during difficult seasons for us to become tempted to close the gate. In seasons of high anxiety, uncertainty and polarization, it becomes easy to circle the wagons, forgetting that we are called not to be a hitching post but rather mission stations. We are called to be fishers of people, not keepers of the aquarium.

When the hinges of our hearts and souls become rusted by fear and anxiety, the anointing of the Holy Spirit can encourage, empower and equip us.

"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations, forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20).

I pray that we never become weary in well doing. Open the gates of your hearts and souls, being confident of this, "That the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).