ozark
07-21-2007, 05:37 PM
I read a similar story to the one below in one of Rob Bell's book. I changed it a bit, but I think it is a neat illustration of how we sometimes struggle with God.
There was this young man who was deeply in love with a young woman. He went to her house to claim her as his wife. He got to his beloved’s house and knocked on the door. To his surprise the door did not open. Instead, he heard his beloved say, “Who is it?” He answered “It is I!” He was stunned when he heard the young lady answer, “Please go away. My house is small. It is built for one. There is not room for two.”
Dismayed the young man turned and walked away. He sought out his friends to get some advice on what to do. They said, “You must clean yourself up and become presentable, then she will open the door.” So, the young man went to the finest store and bought the finest clothes. He got a haircut at a premier hair stylist, and put on sweet smelling cologne. Again, he went to his beloved’s house and knocked on her door. She answered, “Who is it?” He answered “It is I!” Yet, the young lady said again, “Please go away. My house is small. It is built for one. There is not room for two.” The young fellow sadly walked away.
Again, he approached his friends and asked what to do. They said, “You must bring a wonderful gift to win your beloved’s heart!’ So, the fellow went out and bought a dozen red roses and some fine chocolates. He approached the young woman’s door and knocked. She replied, “Who is it?” He answered “It is I, and I have a gift for you!” Yet, the young lady said again, “Please go away. My house is small. It is built for one. There is not room for two.” The young fellow sadly walked away.
The young man spent the whole night pacing the floor trying to figure out what he must do. Finally, early in the morning the answer dawned on him. The next day he went again to his beloved’s door and knocked. She answered “Who is it?” This time the young man gave a different answer. He said, “It is not I, for we are one. There is no I but thou.” Suddenly, the door swung open, and she said, “And likewise, there is no I but thou.” They live together to this day in that little house built for one.
There was this young man who was deeply in love with a young woman. He went to her house to claim her as his wife. He got to his beloved’s house and knocked on the door. To his surprise the door did not open. Instead, he heard his beloved say, “Who is it?” He answered “It is I!” He was stunned when he heard the young lady answer, “Please go away. My house is small. It is built for one. There is not room for two.”
Dismayed the young man turned and walked away. He sought out his friends to get some advice on what to do. They said, “You must clean yourself up and become presentable, then she will open the door.” So, the young man went to the finest store and bought the finest clothes. He got a haircut at a premier hair stylist, and put on sweet smelling cologne. Again, he went to his beloved’s house and knocked on her door. She answered, “Who is it?” He answered “It is I!” Yet, the young lady said again, “Please go away. My house is small. It is built for one. There is not room for two.” The young fellow sadly walked away.
Again, he approached his friends and asked what to do. They said, “You must bring a wonderful gift to win your beloved’s heart!’ So, the fellow went out and bought a dozen red roses and some fine chocolates. He approached the young woman’s door and knocked. She replied, “Who is it?” He answered “It is I, and I have a gift for you!” Yet, the young lady said again, “Please go away. My house is small. It is built for one. There is not room for two.” The young fellow sadly walked away.
The young man spent the whole night pacing the floor trying to figure out what he must do. Finally, early in the morning the answer dawned on him. The next day he went again to his beloved’s door and knocked. She answered “Who is it?” This time the young man gave a different answer. He said, “It is not I, for we are one. There is no I but thou.” Suddenly, the door swung open, and she said, “And likewise, there is no I but thou.” They live together to this day in that little house built for one.