Sitting in the dark. Staring at a brick wall.
I am in an enclosed room. There are four walls, but no door. The windows give me a glimpse of the world outside.
I cannot help but notice what a raw analogy this is to so many lives. We have fortified ourselves with explanations of faith. We have girded our lives with feelings of understanding. We have guarded our viewpoints with sentiments of justice.
But while building our protection, we forgot to leave the door to let others in. And now we’re isolated by our own hand. With only windows to show us what some of the world beyond ourselves can be.
–
A voice calls me to the place where a door would be. As I come closer, flaming sparks begin to pour in through holes in the wall.
We all have reasons to be afraid of the greater world beyond our walls.
Although the sparks present a danger undeniable, eventually they subside. The voice calls me to the same place. I am given instructions to discern three points that must be broken.
How often are we challenged to break free from our intentions? How many times have friends or family brought to our attention habits that limit our potential? How great could we be if only we would begin to listen?
So I pick up a hammer. I smash the top barrier. As the metal clangs to the floor it resembles stories and worldviews that did not come from me, but have been given to me throughout my life by others. This is my naivete. The second piece takes a few hits, but doesn’t budge. I move on to the bottom stronghold. It looks strong, but breaks off easily. This is my pride. Now that this is no longer intact, the second piece falls away with one strong swing. This is my fear.
Naivete. Pride. Fear. If we could break these out of our lives, what a life we could know beyond our greatest imaginings… beyond the walls we have built up around us.
–
The wall swings open. Where once there was only a barrier, now there is a door. I squint as I step through. My eyes take but a brief moment adjusting to what is before me. A world I never knew awaits.
