What would you do if you found yourself locked out of your hotel room?

If you had a family member inside the room, they would come to your rescue by opening the door. But what if no one was in the room and your key card and wallet were safely tucked away on the night table?

This is what happened to us when we were staying in Florida City last summer. We were feverishly packing the car to visit the Florida Keys when my son jumped out of the room to help us finish loading the car. As the door slowly began to close itself behind him, I sprang into action.

“What’s wrong?” My son asked, confused.

The door was connected to a spring mechanism designed to keep it closed. It was simply doing what it was made to do: Shutting itself! Right on my nose! Ouch! That hurt!

We all looked at each others, eyes wide open. We realized that we had to take action, and putting our heads together, we came up with several options:

1. We could try to bust the door open. After all, it was our room! Hadn’t we paid for it?

But to tell you the truth, if I had chosen that insane option, my shoulders would probably be in pieces right now…

2. We could complain to management: “What kind of hotel is this, anyway? Why do you program your doors to close on your clients when the key card is still in the room?

Then again, such outbursts would most certainly ruin the rest of our holidays!

3. We could humble ourselves, locate some help, and ask politely for a new key card. Although it would be a bit embarrassing, it would be much easier on the nerves!

“You did what?”

“Well, I didn’t do anything. The door closed itself on my face!”

“This is tooooooo funny! Hey you guys, come on over here and listen to these bozos!”

As we stared at each other, imagining this particular scenario, compressed air began escaping from our mouths until we were laughing hysterically. Our neighbours must have been wondering about our sanity!

We eventually went to the lobby, and with a contrite heart, we explained our situation. We obtained another key card, and we were set. However, had we chosen any of the other above-mentioned options, we would likely have been locked out for a lot longer!

We are constantly faced with choices in life. The choices of the puffed-up know-it-alls are far from satisfying, and more often than not, they end up with a sore nose! Approaching situations, however, with a broken spirit and a broken, contrite heart, without putting ourselves on an elevated platform, will grant us solutions to even our worst nightmares!

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps 51:16-17 NIV)

Where are my car keys? I can’t find them! Which option should I consider? Hey! I’ve got an idea! Where’s my crowbar?

Rob Chaffart

(To view the entire “Sweet Sacrifice!” devotional series, please click here.)