A Better Light for the New Year

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Let me begin by saying I love our home.  I mean, I absolutely adore our home.  Particularly when I am away from home for a week or so, I seem to appreciate it that much more.  With all the floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the house, we have views of the mountains behind our home and of the amazing Arizona sunsets.  Also, out the back, we can see the dogs playing in the yard (and by that, I mean our pup, Kirby is either standing on the firepit watching the neighbors walk by or he is trying to dig a hole to China). The views are great. The only thing I ever wanted to change was the front entryway. As lovely as the wooden doors are, they prevented any semblance of light from shining through.  So, even on the sunniest of sunny southern Arizona days, our foyer would be considered a bit dark and oppressive.  This fall, Dave and I decided to bite the bullet and get new doors.  While Dave asked about craftsmanship, warranty, and price, my focus fell to only one thing---what design would provide the most light to stream in our entryway?
 
Today is the day---the doors are being installed as we speak.  The irony is not lost on me that it is New Year’s Eve.  Tomorrow, we will step into a new year, one in which we hope to prosper start anew.  I am grateful to be given the opportunity to see with better clarity with a renewed light. What does that mean, literally speaking?  For me, it means two things:

1. I needed to invite the light into my home.  We had to make it a priority. Erasmus is quoted as saying, “Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.”  In other words, I could have continued to walk around complaining that the house was too dark but all that would do is perpetuate the negativity and darkness.  Instead, finding a way to let in new light was important enough to both of us to find a solution.  How many times do we get so irritated by something in our personal or professional lives that it seems all our energy is spent complaining about it instead of looking for an answer.  One of my favorite thoughts is that we need to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.  Our new doors provide the solution.
2. As these new iron, glass-laden doors are being fitted into the doorway, I find myself continuing to walk past the foyer, surprised every time that the light is coming through.  I am, in fact, still expecting darkness even though I know we have brightened the view.  Anyone else ever experience this phenomenon?  In real life, I think it is called sabotaging.  Despite knowing that things can be better, I can still be baffled that things are not still dark.  How can I combat that? Believe in hope.  Believe in things getting better.  Believe in goodness.

 
    
 
Just for today, perhaps we can believe in the hope that the light provides.  What does that look like in your life? I don’t know but I do know this: we have a new year ahead of us to make a change…if we just decide to put in new doors!
 
Happy Communicating!
 
Shelly

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