When Is A Door Not A Door?

 

When Is A Door Not A Door?

November 26, 2024

I was a young man determined to find success. I worked long, hard hours. I fought for what I believed to be true. I took charge and was determined that I would control my fate. I was out to make the world mine, until it all came crashing down one day. I felt compelled to get help and I did get the help they offered but no help seemed to be the answer to my issues. One day I happened upon an ancient scroll by chance at the museum. As I was looking at it a wizened man engaged me in serious conversation. The conversation proceeded on for quite some time until he suggested I follow a path. It led me to this place.

The ancient building was difficult to find. There were many darkened paths on this journey.  I found myself almost giving up many times. He was just a crazy old man in a museum. “Why was I following his advice,” I wondered. Despite my many misgivings I persevered on. After some time had passed I found myself standing before this decrepit little building that looked like it should have been blown down in a fairly gentle breeze.  

I stood looking at the door for a long time. It was ancient and weathered. As a door it was really nothing special yet I was assured by the wizened man when we met that beyond it was exactly what I needed. There were no bells, no buzzers, no door knockers. There was nothing to indicate what lay beyond the door but I was desperate for an answer. I stepped forward and placed the palm of my hand on the door then stepped back. 

The cracked door creaked open slowly. It revealed nothing and everything. I strained my eyes to see in. Inside was a dark passageway that immediately brought creepiness to my mind. No light shone in here yet it was determined that this was the passageway I needed to follow for salvation. Just looking at it sucked the life out of me. I held my breath as my mind raced. Should I stay or should I go? 

“What am I getting myself into?” I thought as I stood there frozen at the prospect this door represented. Is this a new beginning or a departure? If I entered, was there a way out? 

Questions. 

Questions. 

My mind filled with more questions about the uncertainty this door represented. As I stood there pondering, the door started a very slow movement. Quickly I stepped into the gloom deciding I was a bigger man for acknowledging my fate. As the door eased to a gentle whoosh sound I looked around. My eyes became clearer. The pathway became more focused. Lighting had improved to the point where it felt warm and fuzzy. You could almost touch the humanity that existed there. I inched along cautiously surveying my surroundings. The long corridor was barren of any signs of life. As I walked for what seemed like an eternity I spotted something up ahead that was bathed in a stronger light. 

I could see some writing in a beautiful script. I inched forward until I was able to read.

“A door is a conviction that if given time, your options in making your decisions will see a broader span than is normally accepted.”

“What? Wait?” I considered this for quite a while. Was there something more here that I was missing?

A wise man stood in my view in a long side corridor, almost as if he was waiting for me. His head was bent in prayer. I looked at him for quite some time before he looked up at me. He began to chant.

“A door is a pathway to your soul. It is a beginning, an end, a challenge, a closure. You determine your life by it. By the decisions you make.”

“When is a door not a door? A simple question that begs an answer. Choose well.” 

And with that he silently moved off until he was no longer there. 

When is a door not a door? When it is ajar did not seem like the answer here. 

I sat on the floor pondering the question for a long time.

After a while I heard a shuffling sound. A voice hiccuped and then spoke.

“Old man, is this the right passage?  

I looked around for the old man he was referring to when I noticed my hands had grown older. I moved them to my face to discover that I had grown a long white beard. 

 I pointed to the script written on the wall. He stood there looking at it for quite some time.

“What does it mean?” he asked

“When is a door not a door?” I replied looking down the long corridor that the wise man had used to exit from this room. 

“Indeed,” I thought as I shuffled off down the long passageway leaving the newest participant to ponder the age-old question.