A few months back, Lyon College student life did an office remodel of our offices. It was a stressful time for this chaplain. Mainly because I have a lot of stuff. And while some see it as junk (think: old school games, puzzles and silly putty), it all has meaning to me.
But the thing people see first, the one that they say is absolutely me, the one part that represents my theology and personality — is my office door. It is full of stickers, memes, notes, and postcards. All have meaning and purpose. From notes like “you are loved” to “you are enough” to pride flags. The messages are all about God’s love, justice, and mercy.
Even before students and faculty step foot in my office, they can get a pretty good sense of who I am and that my theology is focused on inclusion, belonging, and hope.
As our office began our remodel, I took a hard inventory of everything. But the one thing I did not do was change my office door. While the new desk has fewer toys and the books might be stored away, the door remains the same, full of stickers, signs, and messages. This way of displaying my personality and theological beliefs is something that fellow staff members and faculty have come to know and one that students love to add to when they find a new sticker or sign they think might reflect me and my theology.
A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with a student who was checking out the door. They were commenting on their favorites, asking questions. Mid-sentence, they stopped. They realized there was a gap — a sticker was missing. There was a blank space where there once was a brightly colored affirmation. It caught us off guard. At first, I was sad to realize one of the messages had been removed. And then I thought, maybe, the person who removed the sticker needed its reminder of love and affirmation with them physically. We all need that.
That might not be the case, but that is what I choose to believe about this because all the other stickers remained. And a new sticker was anonymously added the other day, maybe by the person who took the original.
While it isn’t a revolutionary thing to decorate one’s office door or space, it is something that signals to others who you are and what you believe. It is one small way of many to share messages of hope, encouragement, and love in a world that could use a little more of those things these days.
While there was a new sticker added by an anonymous person to my door, the spot where the decal was taken remains bare. I am sure at some point I will fill it in with another message of hope. But for now, I like looking at it. It is my reminder that the messages of God’s love you put out into the world matter.
Sometimes people need a physical reminder of God’s inclusive love — sometimes they need a sticker. When I look at the bare spot on my door, I now say a prayer of thanks for the missing decal and the one who took it, praying they know they are loved and upheld and valued — just as the sticker said. Then, I will get back to work on building our community into that space for all. Where the words and affirmations of the door become actions.
