Doorways to hope

‘Be an explorer of lands you are yet to travel and of truths that wait to be revealed.’ (Christopher Chapman – Doorways to Hope)

I like spiritual director Christopher Chapman’s thoughtful and creative play with un-words: ‘We are nervous of un-words: ‘unsafe’, ‘unsettled’, ‘unsure’, ‘unresolved’. (Yet) Is it always good to be settled? What if we have settled in the wrong place, or in an insufficient understanding of who we are? Is safety always good? We grow up and gain fresh confidence by daring what is beyond our current competence or understanding. Safety can be a very small and limiting place.’

I like Christopher’s use of metaphor too: ‘It’s not so very different from choosing to walk down an unfamiliar path. We won’t get lost if we decide not to do it, but we will never discover where that path might lead us.’ And then, questions: ‘Unsettled: have you settled in the wrong place? Unsafe: is it time to dare what you fear? Uncertain: are old assumptions proving less than true? Unsure: is it time to let go of past securities? Unexplored: is this the time to walk a new path?’

I’m reminded of Jasmin in the Philippines with her courageous challenge to be safe, but not too safe. Or the old inspirational poster that read, ‘A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.’ I’ve often been more afraid of not-doing the unsafe thing (of doing instead the too-sensible thing), for fear of missing out on what could have been possible. Jürgen Moltmann said, ‘Human life must be risked if it is to be won.’ So: what are you willing to risk – to truly live?