Individual boundaries are defined by powers beyond us as well as ourselves. While the boundaries we build in our lives are usually more confining than society’s, recent news brings a wave of sadness. Reports from one country tell how this is inverted. Without choice or willingness, a mix of cultures had their lives redefined by an authoritarian center. The new boundaries are not for the benefit of individual growth or quality of life. As the quiet rebellion grows, I find myself looking in my life’s mirror and reflecting on the boundaries I can identify.
The first boundary is one of common sense. It has been informed by experienced success and failures and accentuated by celebrations and mornings. At times the boundary pulls me into action. On other occasions I find it pushing me back to a place of safety and comfort. It is often hard to see how the foundation has changed from my childhood and the construct given to me by my parents.
The second boundary is shaped by ongoing call to purposeful action. This is not a new discovery. Mentors have guided my discovery and understanding of the call within that defines my aspirations to make a difference in the world around me. The surprise which often emerges from this line in the sand is the pull to do what does not make much sense. It is in the call to nurture and support Divinity’s children I meet that I rediscover the best parts of my soul.
The third boundary is shaped by the principles of compassion, acceptance, and loving kindness. It is an unusual boundary because in context, it is often not where I expect it to be. It calls me to live out my purpose when it does not make sense. It gives me strength when everything else tells me it is time to give up. It is an echo of the Psalm; “Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles his people – always has and always will.” (Psalm 125.2).
Sensing the pushes and pulls, my freedom to choose is the next step.
