Thresholds: Movements of Grace

During the party, Peter carried Anna over an imaginary threshold. Both beamed with delight. Family and friends applauded. No, this was not their wedding. The couple was celebrating the anniversary of their marriage that occurred 20 years ago. At that time, they did not know what their new life together would give them. They moved over a threshold into the unknown with trust, hope and anticipation to which love called them.

The current festive ritual of crossing a threshold in their commitment to each other now stood for the many transitions during their 20 years together. Numerous crossings of thresholds have occurred—some happy and some sad; some failures and others, successes; some anticipations and some regrets; some dramatic and many in the routine of their everyday lives.

Thresholds come in varied shapes and sizes. Many times a day, we cross over from now to a new—even though slight—perspective, feeling, action, way of being. Newlyweds need to cross many thresholds as they learn to live together as marriage partners. The birth of a child shifts the dynamics of the family’s life. Decision-making calls for crossing thresholds: where should we go for vacation? What neighborhood and house would fit our values and needs for our home? What foods would be good to avoid, and which would nourish us as good health-builders? Everyday actions such as listening to a neighbor for whom life is a big complaint, cleaning up baby’s highchair after being splattered with chocolate cake, apologizing for some curt words that poked at a spouse, child or neighbor can move us over the threshold to respect, forgiveness, service. A shift in an idea can open new doors of thinking and action. Crossing a threshold happens when we adjust to the new organization of the workplace and its leadership.

In her book Being Home, Gunilla Norris leads us into a prayer for crossing of our thresholds. She notes that we cross many thresholds each day. We cross from one moment, thought and action to another. They all give us opportunities to be more fully alive and to be aware of many domains of our lives. She ends with words asking for help to cross into each moment where we will find wonder and God’s grace. This is the same place where we will notice our lives unfolding gradually, “moment by moment” (Norris, line 15).

During the year 2025, thresholds will draw and welcome us. What awaits us as we step over them? Possibilities, often with challenges, will call for our hospitality. How will we meet them? Will we be open to wonder and grace as we step over thresholds being given us—even mundane ones?

Mary Reuter, OSB

Photo by Fabricio Trujillo on Pexels