It was an odd place to find a wrought-iron gate. In a business building cluster defined by concrete towers and elevated mezzanine walkways, there was a dark wall, balcony, and gate. I could not see anything other than a small rectangular space in which someone could stand. There were no doorways or stairwells to anything more, just the gate. I stood in silence, wondering. Without answers, my mind began listening to the lessons within. I followed a visual metaphor’s invitation to understand what was beyond.
I am more than just me. My heart and soul are part of something bigger than just myself. While I am accountable for my life and the actions that tell its story, the words and chapters exist within a story that begins before me. In trying to describe how this works, I find myself repeatedly returning to Paul’s words; “In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.” (Romans 12.4)
The freedom to be myself is understood through relationships. My awareness is that I am the artist of my life’s painting. While there is meaning in how I go about my days and what I choose to do, the insight into my life is told through the community that I am a part of. It is in moving towards a better place, that my highlights are revealed. It is in the experiences of kindness and care that I find my best self. It is in sharing a burden that I understand my calling.
Winning is never solitary, it is communal. As I think of the greatest moments, I find myself remembering faces and shared emotions. The value of my life has been found in the experiences I was privileged to be a part of. I look back with awe and wonder. I look forward with hope and courage. I know there are gates yet to be opened. There will be more stories. May each be a step towards a better tomorrow.
