Inside and outside the box

THE box can symbolize many things. In this particular

piece, it symbolizes mainly our togetherness, our unity, our being one

human family. Yes, we belong to one big box, the box of humanity.

            We can also say that inside that one big, original box,

there are many other smaller boxes that can indicate the race we

belong to, our nationality, and other distinctions. Still there are

other smaller boxes that indicate the kind of profession or opinions

we share, or anything that we share in common.

            It’s in these smaller boxes that we can have our

differences and even our conflicts, especially in the area of

opinions, politics, fashion, etc. That is something to be expected and

should not be considered “a priori” as bad.

            These differences and conflicts can be good, and we should

try our best to make them work for the good of all by making them

complement each other, thereby enriching everyone somehow.

  

            Thus, it is good that we stay inside our boxes as much as

possible without, of course, allowing ourselves to be boxed in when it

is necessary for us to open ourselves to the other different and even

conflicting boxes.

            Yes, for the sake of privacy we can have our own space,

our own shell, but we should not allow these private spaces and shells

to imprison us. Just like when we are developed as a fetus inside the

womb of our mothers, we cannot stay there indefinitely. We have to get

out of it.

            This is when we have to acquire the nose to smell the

distinction between when we should be inside our specific boxes and

when we can and should be outside them. Offhand, I believe that we

should be inside our specific boxes most of the time.

            To be outside our boxes should be something exceptional

and should be pursued with the appropriate reason that hopefully would

redound to the good of all or at least of the majority. In the end,

what should push us to go outside is what our conscience, our intimate

dialogue with God, would tell us.

            We need to get out of our boxes from time to time if only

to avoid routine and complacency. Staying inside our boxes can give

rise to simply doing things out of compliance which is already a good

reason to be inside. But for our boxes to grow, to improve, to be more

enriched, we need to get out of it to get inputs from outside that can

be helpful. Let’s be wary of the danger of in-breeding.

            That is why we need from time to time to think out of the

box, for example. This way our systems and procedures can be improved,

and the problems and difficulties encountered there can be resolved

with greater probability.

            Let’s remember that there will always be new things and

new challenges to tackle. The world is always evolving even if it

remains basically the same. We just cannot meet them effectively by

doing the same things inside our own boxes.

            Even in the issue of fidelity to one’s vocation or to

one’s commitments as in marriage, for example, there is always need to

think out of the box from time to time to keep that fidelity going and

growing, adapting to the new challenges of the times. We just cannot

be doing the same things blindly or mindlessly. That’s the formula for

infidelity and death.

            In the end, to think out of the box is a matter of being

vitally united with the Holy Spirit. He will always be leading us to

where we should be. He never allows us to get boxed in or imprisoned

in our own world.

            Thus, Christ said: “Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You

must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its

sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (Jn 3,7-8)