Keys to the Kingdom

I got a key to our church today...it came with a side-order of thrilled anxiety.

I haven't had church keys in about 10 years, but I still remember relinquishing the last one.  It was a pretty emotionally wrenching situation.  Since then, I've sort of avoided having keys to the church.  I've let them give me keys to the storage or the children's building, but I haven't really wanted or needed unfettered access to the WHOLE church since I left the ministry.

Church Key

Keys have a symbolic meaning in our culture.  Any attempt to deny this can be trumped by asking if you remember the first time someone handed you keys to a car.  Everyone I know can remember at least one "event" of receiving a key...first car, first home, first promotion.  Keys symbolize freedom, ownership, trust.  Receiving the key to the office is a rite of passage in many occupations.  Keys are power.  Keys are access.  Keys open doors (not just the literal ones).  Keys move things.

Keys also carry certain responsibilities.  Keys are security.  Keys are badges of office.  As a manager, my wife has a key to every door on site...no one else on her staff has that kind of unfettered access.  Keys define dominion.  No one gives keys away lightly...well, no one who is wise gives keys away lightly.

Since I left The Sprockets last November, I have 2 keys on my keyring.  One opens my apartment and the other opens our mailbox.  (We keep our car keys seperate so that we can swap autos from time to time.)  It has been a nice, prolonged period of non-responsibilities.  I have dominion at home...that's it.  It's very liberating.

I met this morning with the leader of our children's ministry to talk about desiging and building some stage pieces to use during our upcoming VBS.  It seems to be a nice fit for my theatrical background and shouldn't be too consuming.  I'll be able to do all of the work myself.  It's not a big deal or a major project and it is not a leadership role at all.  It is, however, something that would be easier to do at church rather than in my garage.  Having the key is a convenience.  There is very little expectation attached to the exchange and I intend to give the key back as soon as the project is finished,  It's REALLY not a big deal.

But it does foreshaddow something that I've been waiting for.  I've been envisioning an increased responsibility in ministry and this little project is the first step of (I hope) many more toward full-time service again.  I've been thinking about the parable of the talents and the principle that faithfullness in the small things brings greater responsibility.

I think I'm ready for that.