thresh·old noun \ˈthresh-ˌhōld, ˈthre-ˌshōld\
1:
the plank, stone, or piece of timber that lies under a door : sill
2a :
gate, door;
b (1) :
end, boundary; specifically : the
end of a runway (2) : the place or point
of entering or beginning : outset
3a :
the point at which a physiological or psychological effect begins to be
produced
b :
a level, point, or value above which something is true or will take
place and below which it is not or will not
What
does the word ‘threshold’ mean?
I
was asked this question recently. The
woman was fluent in English, yet this word was new to her. Understandably so. I struggled to give an adequate
definition. I kept landing on the phrase
“threshold of pain” (3. A: the point at which a physiological or psychological
effect begins to be produced). She asked
because we both had walked through an art installation called…I’m sure you’ve
guessed, “Threshold.” It was recently
installed at the retreat center I visited this past month. It’s hard to describe the piece, so I’ll just
post the photo for you to see.
The
piece is constructed with Texas limestone and has three separate entrances (the
piece was constructed using multiples of 3).
The entire piece plays on round shapes, evoking a maternal, womb-like
feel at moments. Its floor itself is
also made of stone, staying true to the name threshold (1: the plank, stone, or piece of timber that
lies under a door), implying that the skies are a sort of door.
For
me, the standout part of this installation was the tower. To enter into the tower, one must bow to pass
through the threshold (2.a: gate, door). It is a humbling move to awkwardly bend the
body to enter. It was a tall, tiny
space, yet I immediately felt safe, secure and held. What a contrast to the tube of an MRI
machine, which I found to be scary and confining. I knew I had to return later when I could be
there alone. That afternoon I walked
back and had a sacred moment there. The
acoustics invited a song, so I softly sang “For the Beauty of the Earth.” And then I just stood there. Safe and at peace.
Lord of all to
thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise!
Lately,
I’ve had the sense that God is moving and preparing me for changes. I don’t know what those changes will be, but
as I described it recently, I can feel his moves and bumps indicating that
something is happening. I realize how
much I am at the threshold (2b : end, boundary; the place or point of entering
or beginning) of
something new.
So,
what does threshold mean for me? It
means both an ending and a beginning.
Yet, it also means I am surrounded and held in a set structure, the
structure of a threshold. The true
threshold. God my Father.
