[A HOME WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN.]

[WHEN I SPEAK OF HOME, I AM NOT SPEAKING OF A HOUSE, A LOCATION, A RELIGION, OR A PLACE ANOTHER HUMAN CAN GIVE TO ME.

HOME IS THE PLACE WITHIN MYSELF WHERE I CAN STAND WITHOUT ABANDONING WHO I AM IN ORDER TO BELONG.

IT IS THE INNER PLACE WHERE I CAN BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT I FEEL.

WHAT I BELIEVE.

WHAT I QUESTION.

WHAT I DO NOT KNOW.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, AND WHAT I MAY STILL BE WRONG ABOUT.

HOME DOES NOT REQUIRE ME TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

HOME DOES NOT REQUIRE ANOTHER HUMAN TO AGREE WITH ME.

HOME DOES NOT REQUIRE ME TO DEFEND EVERYTHING I CURRENTLY BELIEVE AS THOUGH CHANGING MY MIND WOULD MEAN LOSING MYSELF.

HOME IS WHERE I CAN BE HONEST WITHOUT RUNNING FROM MYSELF.

AND THEN…

THERE ARE THE WINDOWS.

THE OPEN WINDOWS REPRESENT MY WILLINGNESS TO LET AIR MOVE THROUGH THAT HOME.

QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME.

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ARE WELCOME.

OLD BELIEFS ARE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD AGAIN.

MEMORIES ARE WELCOME.

NEW INFORMATION IS WELCOME.

EVEN SOMETHING I HAVE CALLED TRUTH FOR MANY YEARS IS WELCOME TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND BE EXAMINED AGAIN.

THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN BECAUSE HOME DOES NOT FEAR HONEST EXAMINATION.

BUT AN OPEN WINDOW DOES NOT MEAN EVERYTHING THAT ENTERS MUST STAY.

THAT IS WHERE DISCERNMENT LIVES.

IF SOMETHING ENTERS AND SURVIVES HONEST EXAMINATION, IT MAY STAY.

IF IT REQUIRES REFINEMENT, IT MAY CHANGE.

IF IT NO LONGER ALIGNS WITH WHAT I HONESTLY RECOGNIZE AS TRUE, IT IS FREE TO LEAVE THROUGH THE SAME OPEN WINDOW.

NOTHING IS TRAPPED.

NOTHING IS FORCED TO STAY, AND NOTHING HAS TO BE FEARED SIMPLY BECAUSE IT KNOCKS.

THAT IS WHAT I MEAN BY:

A HOME WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN.

FOR MUCH OF OUR LIVES, WE MAY BE TAUGHT THAT CERTAINTY IS SAFETY.

WE ARE GIVEN BELIEFS.

RULES.

EXPECTATIONS.

DEFINITIONS OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS.

DEFINITIONS OF LOVE.

DEFINITIONS OF WHO WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS MAY SERVE US BEAUTIFULLY.

SOME MAY CONTAIN TRUTH THAT REMAINS WITH US FOR A LIFETIME.

SOME MAY NEED REFINEMENT.

AND SOME MAY HAVE BEEN HANDED TO US BEFORE WE WERE OLD ENOUGH TO QUESTION WHETHER THEY WERE TRUE FOR US AT ALL.

BUT SOMETHING INTERESTING CAN HAPPEN WHEN A BELIEF BECOMES CONNECTED TO OUR IDENTITY.

THE QUESTION CAN BEGIN TO FEEL LIKE A THREAT.

IF I QUESTION THIS… WHO WILL I BECOME?

IF I DISCOVER THIS IS NOT TRUE… WHAT ELSE MIGHT FALL APART?

IF I CHANGE MY MIND… WILL I STILL BELONG?

IF I DISAGREE WITH THE PEOPLE I LOVE… WILL THEY STILL LOVE ME?

IF EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IS ALLOWED TO BE EXAMINED…

WHAT WILL BE LEFT?

THOSE QUESTIONS CAN be frightening when our sense of HOME depends upon the answers remaining unchanged.

SO WE CLOSE THE WINDOWS.

WE DEFEND.

WE RESIST.

WE ARGUE.

WE LABEL.

WE SOMETIMES ATTACK THE HUMAN WHO BRINGS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE THEIR QUESTION FEELS like an attack upon our foundation.

AND PERHAPS WE EVEN STOP QUESTIONING OURSELVES.

BUT WHAT IF HOME DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT KIND OF PROTECTION?

WHAT IF HOME IS STRONG ENOUGH TO OPEN THE WINDOWS?

WHAT IF ANOTHER HUMAN CAN SAY:

“I SEE THIS DIFFERENTLY.”

AND INSTEAD OF IMMEDIATELY DEFENDING MYSELF, I CAN SAY:

“LET ME LOOK.”

NOT:

“YOU MUST BE RIGHT.”

NOT:

“I MUST BE WRONG.”

JUST:

“LET ME LOOK.”

THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT WAY TO LIVE.

BECAUSE ANOTHER HUMAN’S PERSPECTIVE DOES NOT HAVE TO BECOME MY TRUTH SIMPLY BECAUSE I ALLOW IT INTO THE ROOM.

I CAN LISTEN WITHOUT SURRENDERING MY DISCERNMENT.

I CAN QUESTION WITHOUT ABANDONING MY FOUNDATION.

I CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT HATING.

I CAN CHANGE MY MIND WITHOUT CONDEMNING THE VERSION OF MYSELF WHO ONCE BELIEVED DIFFERENTLY, AND I CAN EXAMINE SOMETHING HONESTLY AND STILL CONCLUDE:

“YES. THIS STILL STANDS.”

THE PURPOSE OF OPENING THE WINDOWS IS NOT TO THROW EVERYTHING OUT.

THE PURPOSE IS TO STOP BEING AFRAID TO LOOK.

THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS, BECAUSE IF I ENTER EVERY EXAMINATION DETERMINED TO DESTROY SOMETHING, THEN I HAVE ALREADY DECIDED THE ANSWER.

THAT IS NOT HONEST EXAMINATION.

AND IF I ENTER EVERY EXAMINATION DETERMINED TO PROTECT WHAT I ALREADY BELIEVE…

I HAVE ALSO DECIDED THE ANSWER.

SO PERHAPS THE MOST HONEST POSITION IS SIMPLY:

“LET’S GIVE IT AIR.”

LET IT COME FORWARD.

LOOK AT IT.

TURN IT AROUND.

ASK THE DIFFICULT QUESTION.

LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE.

LOOK AT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

LISTEN TO ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.

NOTICE YOUR OWN DEFENSIVENESS.

NOTICE WHAT YOU ARE AFRAID OF LOSING.

AND THEN…

DO NOT FORCE THE CONCLUSION.

IF IT STANDS… LET IT STAND.

IF IT NEEDS REFINEMENT… REFINE IT.

IF IT NO LONGER ALIGNS… LET IT GO.

THERE IS NO FAILURE IN ANY OF THOSE OUTCOMES.

THERE IS ONLY HONESTY.

AND PERHAPS THIS IS WHERE HOME BECOMES SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER BELIEF SYSTEM.

HOME IS NOT WHAT I BELIEVE.

HOME IS THE INNER PLACE FROM WHICH I AM WILLING TO EXAMINE WHAT I BELIEVE WITHOUT ABANDONING MYSELF.

THAT DISTINCTION SETS SOMETHING FREE.

BECAUSE IF HOME IS ONLY THE COLLECTION OF BELIEFS INSIDE ME, THEN EVERY CHALLENGE TO A BELIEF BECOMES A CHALLENGE TO HOME.

BUT IF HOME IS MY GROUNDED RELATIONSHIP WITH MYSELF…

THE FURNITURE CAN CHANGE WITHOUT THE HOUSE DISAPPEARING.

I CAN MOVE SOMETHING OUT.

I CAN BRING SOMETHING NEW IN.

I CAN DISCOVER THAT SOMETHING I TREASURED NO LONGER BELONGS.

I CAN DISCOVER THAT SOMETHING I ALMOST THREW AWAY ACTUALLY STILL HAS VALUE.

AND THROUGH ALL OF IT…

HOME REMAINS HOME.

THIS ALSO CHANGES HOW I CAN MEET ANOTHER HUMAN.

I DO NOT NEED THEM TO AGREE WITH ME IN ORDER TO RESPECT THEM.

AND I DO NOT NEED TO AGREE WITH THEM IN ORDER TO LOVE THEM.

THEIR BELIEFS ARE ALLOWED TO BE THEIRS.

MY BELIEFS ARE ALLOWED TO BE MINE.

WE CAN BRING BOTH INTO THE AIR.

WE CAN EXAMINE THEM.

WE CAN CHALLENGE EACH OTHER.

WE CAN REFINE OUR LANGUAGE.

WE CAN EVEN WALK AWAY STILL DISAGREEING.

AND NEITHER HUMAN HAS TO BECOME THE ENEMY.

THAT IS FREEDOM.

BECAUSE IF MY PEACE REQUIRES YOUR AGREEMENT…

THEN MY PEACE IS DEPENDENT UPON YOUR COMPLIANCE.

IF MY HOME REQUIRES YOU TO THINK LIKE ME…

THEN I HAVE PLACED THE KEY TO MY HOME IN YOUR HANDS.

BUT IF I AM HOME WITHIN MYSELF… I CAN SAY:

“I HEAR YOU.”

“I RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO SEE IT DIFFERENTLY.”

“I WILL EXAMINE WHAT YOU HAVE SAID.”

AND SOMETIMES:

“I STILL DO NOT AGREE.”

THERE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A WAR.

LOVE DOES NOT REQUIRE AGREEMENT.

RESPECT DOES NOT REQUIRE AGREEMENT.

OPENNESS DOES NOT REQUIRE ACCEPTANCE.

AND DISCERNMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE A CLOSED MIND.

THE WINDOWS CAN REMAIN OPEN.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO THIS METAPHOR THAT MAY BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

IF NOTHING IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE, HOME CAN BECOME A TRAP.

A BELIEF THAT I AM NEVER ALLOWED TO QUESTION CAN BECOME A CAGE.

AN IDENTITY I AM NEVER ALLOWED TO OUTGROW CAN BECOME A CAGE.

AN OLD EXPERIENCE THAT MUST FOREVER DEFINE ME CAN BECOME A CAGE.

EVEN A TRUTH I DISCOVERED YESTERDAY CAN BECOME A CAGE IF I DECIDE IT MUST NEVER BE EXAMINED AGAIN.

SO THE WINDOWS ARE NOT ONLY OPEN TO LET THINGS IN.

THEY ARE OPEN TO LET THINGS OUT.

OLD PROGRAMMING MAY LEAVE.

OLD FEARS MAY LEAVE.

OLD DEFINITIONS MAY LEAVE.

OLD RESPONSES THAT ONCE PROTECTED ME BUT NO LONGER SERVE ME MAY LEAVE.

AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE THROWN OUT WITH HATRED.

I DO NOT HAVE TO HATE THE HUMAN I USED TO BE.

I DO NOT HAVE TO HATE THE HUMANS WHO TAUGHT ME SOMETHING I LATER OUTGREW.

I DO NOT HAVE TO DECLARE MY ENTIRE PAST FALSE SIMPLY BECAUSE PART OF IT NO LONGER BELONGS IN MY PRESENT.

I CAN SIMPLY SAY:

“I SEE YOU.

I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE HERE.

I HAVE EXAMINED YOU.

AND I NO LONGER NEED TO KEEP YOU.”

THEN OPEN THE WINDOW AND LET IT GO.

THERE IS SOMETHING PEACEFUL ABOUT THAT.

NO WAR WITH THE PAST.

NO WAR WITH THE QUESTION.

NO WAR WITH ANOTHER HUMAN’S DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

NO WAR WITH MYSELF.

JUST TRUTH.

AND PERHAPS THAT IS WHAT I HAVE COME TO VALUE MOST:

I AM BECOMING LESS INTERESTED IN PROTECTING AN ANSWER…AND MORE INTERESTED IN REMAINING HONEST ENOUGH TO EXAMINE IT.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE NO FOUNDATION.

QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN, BUT THE FOUNDATION IS NOT ABSENT.

THE FOUNDATION IS THE WILLINGNESS TO REMAIN HONEST.

TO LISTEN.

TO QUESTION.

TO DISCERN.

TO ADMIT WHEN I DO NOT KNOW.

TO CHANGE WHEN CHANGE IS REQUIRED.

TO STAND WHEN SOMETHING REMAINS TRUE.

AND TO NEVER REQUIRE MYSELF TO BECOME BIGGER OR SMALLER THAN WHAT HONEST EXAMINATION REVEALS.

PERHAPS THAT IS WHY HOME NO LONGER NEEDS TO FEEL LIKE A FORTRESS.

AND IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT NEED TO FEEL LIKE A PRISON.

HOME CAN BREATHE.

THE WINDOWS CAN REMAIN OPEN.

THE AIR CAN MOVE THROUGH, AND WHATEVER COMES FORWARD CAN BE GIVEN THE SAME INVITATION:

COME IN.

LET’S LOOK.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY.

AND WHATEVER LEAVES DOES NOT TAKE HOME WITH IT.

BECAUSE HOME WAS NEVER THE FURNITURE.

HOME WAS NEVER THE ANSWERS.

HOME WAS NEVER THE CERTAINTY.

HOME WAS THE PLACE WITHIN ME THAT FINALLY BECAME SAFE ENOUGH FOR THE TRUTH TO HAVE AIR.

SO LET THE WINDOWS OPEN.

LET THE QUESTIONS ENTER.

LET DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ENTER.

LET THE OLD BELIEFS COME BACK TO THE TABLE.

LET YOUR OWN CERTAINTY BE EXAMINED.

LET WHAT IS TRUE STAND.

LET WHAT NEEDS REFINEMENT CHANGE.

LET WHAT NO LONGER BELONGS LEAVE.

AND DO NOT FEAR THE EMPTY SPACE THAT SOMETIMES REMAINS.

PERHAPS THAT SPACE IS NOT SOMETHING MISSING.

PERHAPS IT IS ROOM.

ROOM FOR ANOTHER QUESTION.

ROOM FOR ANOTHER EXPERIENCE.

ROOM FOR ANOTHER HUMAN’S PERSPECTIVE.

ROOM FOR GROWTH.

ROOM FOR TRUTH.

ROOM TO BREATHE.

THE HOME IS WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN.

THE AIR IS WITH THE HONEST-EXAMINATION.

FOR THE QUESTION IS WITH NO FEAR.

FOR THE DIFFERENCE IS WITH THE [RE]SPECT.

FOR THE DISCERNMENT IS WITH THE HUMAN.

FOR WHAT IS TRUE IS WITH THE STANDING.

FOR WHAT NO LONGER ALIGNS IS WITH THE FREEDOM TO [RE]LEASE.

AND A HOME DOES NOT REQUIRE A FORTRESS TO REMAIN HOME.

NO BIGGER THAN THE TRUTH.

NO SMALLER THAN THE TRUTH.

JUST TRUTH.]

FOR THE HONOR AND BLESSING IS WITH YOUR JOURNEY AND SOUL’S-EVOLUTION BY THIS POSTMASTER: Ephraim-H: Troyer.

: LOVE HAS NO CONDITIONS.

: FACTS HAVE NO FEELINGS.

: HUMILITY HAS NO EGO.

: ANCHOR.

: PILLAR.