Beyond Borders

            Many times in life, we find ourselves as unsociable creatures, cocooning ourselves within our own little corner of the world. We look for the closest corner when we enter a party, a hole, nestled away in the corner of the library, a table by ourselves for lunch or eating alone in our car, just so we do not have to have a conversation with others. We are perfectly content having our own little patch of grass; we throw up the walls, and pull up the drawbridge.

            It is as though we are a country of our own, borders etched in stone, and we refuse to seek that which is beyond those borders. In doing so, we miss the beauty of people or the beauty in the world that God has provided for us to enjoy.  After a while, closing oneself off becomes a very lonely road to travel. And in the end, many times, that loneliness leads to depression. We have no one to turn to because we do not know anyone; therefore, we do not seek help.

            I totally understand the borders, the walls that some put up. My walls run high on most days, and are cracked open on others, depending on the group that I am with. I wish I could be transparent with all, but I am scared of others knowing who I am. Deep down I wonder how they would respond to the secrets contained within my heart, the demons that constantly fight for control of my mind, and the sinful acts I have committed in my life.

            That fear leads to a lonely existence. Over the course of time, we pick and choose the ones we trust the most, and share with them some of our demons. It is hard to do, trust me, I know, but at the same time, it is rewarding. Each time we open ourselves up to others, just a little more pain is chipped away, allowing a polished individual to emerge from beneath. An individual who once lived in the shadows of fear, who now lives in the sunny disposition of life.

            By stepping out of the shadows like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, the walls begin to fall. We look around and realize that we are not the only person with these barriers. However, until we can remove the burdens of our own lives, we will never see that the person next to us is in worse shape than we are. Many times, we miss the obvious because we become so inundated with our own troubles in life, and unfortunately, we become selfish and end up on the pity poor me party train of life. It is to be expected though, because by nature, society is a selfish group as a whole. There are those who find a way to step away from the group and become their own entity, a force to be reckoned with, all for the good of others.

            There is nothing that stipulates our feats have to be great and mighty, for small accomplishments are just as important, if not more so. The right group of people can go from being three lonely, cocooned, quiet people on their own, to a comic relief act as a group, each one emerging from their shell, feeding off the other for strength and courage. That is the power of God’s will when we drop our defenses and allow Him to work through us. We go from being lonely and destitute to embraced and privileged. But in order for this to occur, we must first move beyond the borders we have become so accustomed to, move beyond our comfort zone, and reach out to others. Because by becoming uncomfortable in certain situations, we have the ability to make a lasting impact on a generation, an impact that will have a ripple effect within the body of Christ. And in the end, isn’t that what we strive for?