We have all been told that when one door closes, another one is sure to open. But always found that to be less than helpful. I was intent on discovering that newly opened door and all that it held in store for me…immediately. What I have discovered is that I was missing two important pieces that would help me to understand this meaningful statement.
First, I was missing patience. I wanted to see a big neon sign that was pointing to the next open door as well as a packing list that would tell me what I was going to find as I passed through the door. That just doesn’t happen in real life. You venture forward, take what you get and if you are smart, you make the most of it. Nothing is promised and nothing is guaranteed, but the world is full of people who have made something out of nothing. I just needed to invest the time and effort to make something of the next opportunity that I found on the other side of the door.
Second, I was missing faith. Faith was what needed to be deep in my heart to reassure me that the door was there, it would open, and that I would find what I needed after I passed through it. Had I only imagined my journey in my mind, I might have seen that the door that closed was already behind me. And that meant that is was in my past. The fact that it closed was not really important, because it had already done its part to get me further along in my journey. I should only look forward with faith and trust, not backward with sadness, disappointment or anger.
In reality, doors opening and closing are all just our way of trying to impose our will on something that is not bound by physical or earthly restrictions. All that we have is time and the ability to choose how we use that time to make progress in our journey. We will find opportunities and choices as well as challenges and hardships throughout life. But it is our choice to be patient so that we can discover what each brings into our lives. And we must also have faith that each one will each teach us a lesson that is meant to help us grow from the experience.
What a beautiful reflection of how growing older brings wisdom when we’re open to learning. Jack Kornfield’s book, A Path With Heart says wisdom and compassion are the two greatest spiritual gifts. Wisdom is seeing things as they really are and compassion is knowing we are all one. This post expresses both gifts as only you can express them, Kathy, in few words, but with such clarity. Another “keeper” for me for my book of printed out pages I can return to even if the wifi is down. xxxxoooo
Doors are options for some, and opportunities for others. Some need a key, others make their own out of Patience and Faith. Life is a teacher, those who are present will know where to find the right key to open any door. We all learn differently, and that is a bigger problem than any of us are aware of.