I watched Sid stand by the door for almost 27 years as he helped many a man find the door.


I Stand at the Door

By Sam Shoemaker (from the Oxford Group)


I stand by the door.
I neither go to far in, nor stay to far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There is no use my going way inside and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where the door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it.
So I stand by the door.

The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door - the door to God.
The most important thing that any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands
And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man's own touch.

Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter.
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live on the other side of it - live because they have not found it.

Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him.
So I stand by the door.

Go in great saints; go all the way in -
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics.
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in.
Sometimes venture in a little farther,
But my place seems closer to the opening.
So I stand by the door.

There is another reason why I stand there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia
And want to get out. 'Let me out!' they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled.
For the old life, they have seen too much:
One taste of God and nothing but God will do any more.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving - preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door
But would like to run away. So for them too,
I stand by the door.

I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door.
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply and stay in too long
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there too.

Where? Outside the door -
Thousands of them. Millions of them.
But - more important for me -
One of them, two of them, ten of them.
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
So I shall stand by the door and wait
For those who seek it.

'I had rather be a door-keeper
So I stand by the door.

Dear Family, It was a great pleasure to have Sid in my life.  I will miss him.

Our deepest sympathy, condolences and prayers to Sid's family and friends. He was a special individual.  God Bless

Dear Sid Clarks family,
I was so sad to see Sids obituary in the Coloradoan and had missed his service today.  I did not know of it as I saw it online too late.  Sid was a friend of mine as I was in alanon and he was in AA in the tues and thursday meetings of Big Book Enthusiasts.  We would go for breakfast and lunch and he would inspire me about recovery.  He was a very practical and honest person and would call me to check on me as well.  He worked very hard and often had a smile on his face.  He really practiced recovery and followed the BB or big book the way he was taught and was a great example of sobriety for others.  I know now he is in the big book meetings in the sky right now looking for others to sponsor who crossed over and did not seek out recovery yet.  I will never forget him and his cowboy hat.  I had met you, his mother Shirley I think several times and I know how proud and grateful you were of Sid  
I am so sorry for Sid passing so young and before the natural order of things  He was so speical and will be in my heart for a long time.  I will pray for you and your family if its ok and say hi to Sid when i cross over someday.   I will miss him dearly.  My thoughts are with you all at this time.   Much love,   Mira Valencia

OBITUARIO

Sidney Clark

22 septiembre, 1950 – 27 diciembre, 2013

Allnutt Funeral & Cremation - Macy

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