Hinges

^{by Jon}

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

One of the first things we noticed when we moved in to our new place is a bent hinge at our guest bathroom door. This is likely due to wear and tear of the hinge, with the weight of the door bearing down on it causing its gradual bend. This causes the bathroom door to require a great, big push in order to fully close. We would tell our guests to use brute force when opening and closing it. I tried to fix it during the first few days of moving in, with the result of it turning out even worse. Handyman services are rare in our village, with the quality of the repairs often being uncertain.

Subsequently, with the burden of ministry and fatigue at the end of the day, we gave up repairing the hinge and accepted it as part and parcel of our home.

When we recently welcomed a Taiwan short-term mission team to worship at our home on a Sunday, they noticed the faulty hinge. Despite us telling them that we have accepted it as part of the house, a mechanic in the team stepped up to fix it. Within 15 minutes, he fixed the hinge and we could easily close the bathroom door for the first time in two months. And just like the weight of the door that had been lifted from that hinge after the repair, I felt a burden lifted from my heart.

When asked the question of how short-term mission teams can bless missionaries on the field, I am reminded of that hinge. While we appreciate every single one of the trippers who wanted to bless us in their different ways, we were moved by the man who took time to thoughtfully observe and bless us in a way we did not even realize we needed help in. Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonian church, teaches us that it is our unity in Christ that impels us to encourage and build up one another. Such encouragement , whether it is in words or deeds, leads us towards Christlikeness and a life pleasing in God’s eyes. May we not be distracted by the challenges of everyday and instead strive to look at the needs of others to build them up in holiness and love.