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The Law of the Open Door

I grew up in a country where earthquakes are a regular part of life. We distinguish between two kinds: the strong ones we call earthquakes, ranging from 7.0 to 8.5 on the magnitude scale, and the milder ones, known as tremors, which are below 6.9. Most of the time, we don’t panic—or even move—while tables jump in front of us. It’s only when the shaking becomes intense enough that, with a mix of annoyance and resignation, we realize it’s time to stand under a doorframe or get out of the house.

Because homes and buildings can collapse during especially strong earthquakes, my mother insisted that we kept our doors open almost all the time, just in case we needed a way out. And in all seriousness—this can happen.

It’s fascinating how deeply these “traditions” take root. Even though I no longer live in a place where earthquakes are common, I am still mentally wired to keep doors open at all times.

As I’ve grown, I’ve come to understand doors in a very different way. Throughout life, I’ve encountered many doors—some open, some closed. Some have always been closed to me and likely always will be. Others opened briefly, only to close with time. Some were once closed and later opened. And a rare few have always been open and remain so.

Long ago, I learned what it’s called the “Law of the Open Door”. The idea that open doors reveal the paths God wants us to follow—the paths that are part of a greater plan, meant to help us learn and grow.

What amazes me is how stubborn we can be. So often, we keep knocking on doors that are firmly closed. We try harder. We persist. We convince ourselves that this must be the way. Yet the door remains shut—closed to us. At some point, we must accept the truth: that door is not our path. As frustrating and incomprehensible as it may feel, when a door does not open, the only real option is to turn around and search for another one.

I hope I’m able to recognize the doors that are open for me. I don’t know what I’ll find on the other side, but I want to keep walking through them. I also hope I have the courage to keep knocking on new doors, even when they don’t open—not yet at least. As I recently heard, rejection is redirection.

So far, I’ve found many open doors, and I’m deeply grateful for each one. Behind every open door, I trust there is an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to continue evolving into who I am meant to be.

So let me ask you:

Are you knocking on the right door?

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