Hagrid Knocking at Your Door
written by: Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ”
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of sermons I could preach using the Harry Potter series as illustrations. Humor me while I share a few devotions with Harry Potter examples. Harry’s aunt and uncle do not want Harry to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts’ mailings would not stop, so the Dursleys picked up and moved to an island where they were sure no one would find Harry. Hogwarts’ representative, Hagrid, a giant person, knocks down the door of their cabin and enters.
Hagrid suddenly informs eleven-year-old Harry – who was told that he was unworthy of care or love for his entire life – that he is special and wanted. Harry has options. He can listen to his aunt and uncle. They may mistreat him, without love, but his life with the Dursleys was known and had to be strangely comfortable. Instead, Harry chose to listen to a scary giant, who promised to take him to some mysterious school, to face unknown experiences.
Harry took the leap of faith and was never the same. There were many hardships and dangers, but his life was rich and meaningful. But, ask adult Harry now, and he would tell you it was the best decision of his life. To deny the invitation would be to deny the friendships, the love, growth, and maturity that made him into the man he is now.
Today, prayerfully ask God if you’ve taken suitable risks. Not every risk is beneficial, but a life focused totally on comfort isn’t meaningful either. God did not put us on this earth just for our convenience. We are called to a challenging, and perhaps even uncomfortable, journey to live the faith and fulfill God’s call for our lives. Pray for God to provide the wisdom necessary to learn which risks are worth choosing, so your life can be whole and meaningful, like Harry Potter’s.