POROUS WALLS

In the housing business, the construction of a wall is paramount to the success of the building. I’ve heard that houses need to breathe. The goal, however, is a tight seal. Walls that let harmful substances leak through are damaging to its durability. Weak walls result in weak houses.

Public schools can also be tightly sealed in their control of programs. They try to protect the learning that takes place inside with a strong roof and thick walls. More often though, numerous outside parties now influence the academics of the students. Some positively, some negatively. Although still rigid, our classroom walls have become more porous. I’m at ease with that image; a strong structure with small spaces for drafts of new ideas.

What about humans? People like me work very hard to build walls. I keep out what I detest or what I fear. With highly developed talents, I live within my well-defined space. I’ve constructed a solid belief that I can control what and how things affect me.

It takes an incredible force to break down a human wall, my walls. When it happens, it’s explosive! Damaged walls remove your sense of security. It’s almost impossible to rebuild when you can’t recognize the old, protective framework. Trying to force down another’s defenses usually results in irreparable destruction; a broken spirit.

Contrary to house walls , I think I need to make my walls more porous, – to let things seep through gradually, –  to avoid patching every hole perfectly. Experiences that drip through, may mark up the furniture, may taint the colour of the room, but they only change the atmosphere in small ways. They make me only a little uncomfortable. They don’t destroy the support beams. It’s much easier to adjust to a small fissure than to recover from a wrecking ball.

In turn, to influence another, I must finds ways through the cracks in the bricks or to gently chip away at the armoured space. Take my time to explore for tiny openings where ideas can squeeze through. Trying to knock it over with force will only leave someone with a pile of rubble and no safe place.

If I begin with the premise that our walls are porous, I can make a place for the thoughts of others and maybe leave my mark within their shelter.

The next time I feel a draft, I’ll try to recognize it as the easier alternative for change.

Porous Walls

It’s bone-crushing work! Taking a sledge hammer to your wall or an anchor brace for mine. I’m blocked by bricks neatly stacked in place or wrecked into piles. I’m either damaged from a head-on collision or lying in rubble. The sturdier I try to make it, the harder it is to keep standing. Pressed up against it, I can feel it shake. That’s when I need to steady myself and look for cracks. Discover peep holes and take in the widest view possible. Feel for a draft and suck in that supply of air. That tiny view, that small breath can save my wall. Can save me.

B. Toner – April 2017