On the drive to my work there’s a bit of the road marked off for repair – some big lorry busted the manhole cover (thanks buddy!). Well it appears the roads department are very busy this time of year because it’s been like that for weeks. So while we wait for it to be fixed, they’ve put cones around it with a temporary set of traffic lights, which in typical fashion, change very slowly. So here, in this ridiculously small part of a quiet back road, cars will wait for the green light…and wait…and wait…while nothing is coming the other direction.
Now this got me thinking. What happens when we come across a problem? May I suggest a number of characteristic responses:
THE INNOCENT: “Hole, what hole? There’s no hole heeeerrrrrreeeee!!”
THE ORPHAN: “Oh my gosh, look! There’s a hole in the road with cones round it!! How awful – now I’m stuck here till someone fixes it.”
THE MARTYR: ” There are always holes in my road! Always! Why me? Why pick on me?”
THE WANDERER: “OK, another hole. This obviously not the right way to go. I’m off to find an easier road, one with no holes this time.”
THE WARRIOR: “Right, hole! You’re in for it this time. I’ll show you, I’m going to sort you out once and for all! Come here!!”
What if we learned to ask what the hole tells us about ourselves instead of focusing on the hole itself? What if we then became Wizards who transform the hole, seeing it as an invitation to grow and become more alive? Maybe then we’ll get a green light.
