Inspiration: The Story Behind The Door
“She knocked and waited, because when the door was opened from within, it had the potential to lead someplace quite different.” Laini Taylor
Inspiration: The Story Behind The Door – Life’s mysteries
Inspiration: The Story Behind The Door – Life’s mysteries
A very little key will open a very heavy door. Charles Dickens
I’m learning persistence and the closing of doors, the way the seasons come and go as I keep walking on these roads, back and forth, to find myself in new time zones, new arms with new phrases and new goals. Charlotte Eriksson
What door will you choose today? What door will choose you? In an ancient village, many moons ago, the Elders held a bi-annual ritual that was considered both sacred and secret. Only men and women of great valor were invited to attend the Ceremony of the Nine Doors. Twice a year, members of the village would brace themselves for the news that came from the village crier at cock’s crow. The news was an invitation to specific members to join the procession of Elders who took that journey to the King’s palace for their initiation into the Order of the Ceremony of the Nine Doors. How did the selection process take place? Why were some men/women of valor chosen while others were cast aside as if their acts of courage were an embarrassment to the community? In the quiet of the night, as families huddled around the communal fire, roasting crickets and yams, the Elders whispered among themselves about this great ceremony that measured a member’s true dedication to the village.
For eons, Uzo, a local girl wise beyond her years, observed the comings and goings of the Elders. She longed to learn the secrets of the ceremony and particularly of the selection process. Her grandfather was a member of the Order, but her father, who was a skilled hunter and coco yam farmer, hadn’t made the cut. Why? Why not? Whenever she ventured to ask the question at family gatherings in the Obi, her father would scold her for meddling in adult conversations.
“But Papa, you are a man of great valor, and I don’t know why they won’t pick you!” She said to her father, one chilly Harmattan night, as the family huddled together by the bonfire, the logs crackling, sending smoke and sparkling embers into the air.
“It is not your place to query the decision of the Elders,” he scolded her gently. His voice softened a bit when his second wife repeated the same statement, her voice heavy with anguish.
Grandpa cleared his throat and, for the first time in many years, weighed in. “It is not that your father is lacking in honorable qualities, my child…” He paused and then continued, “You see, one must first serve without expectation of reward, and then, one must hold an intention that blesses and inspires the community.”
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” Joseph Campbell
Inspiration: The Story Behind The Door – Life’s mysteries
Inspiration: The Story Behind The Door – Life’s mysteries
If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you’re grateful, you’ll see Creation open up new doors. Joel Osteen
Uzo’s eyes lit up. Grandpa had never spoken about the Order before, and this bit of information puzzled her. Even her own father looked surprised. He was about to comment when he was silenced by the gentle touch of his first wife, Nne, Uzo’s mother.
“How can one serve without expectation …? Even during the harvest we look to reap the seeds we sowed.” Uzo said a tad loudly. Her boldness was always a sour point with her mother, but her grandfather admired that quality in her.
“Yes, my child … we do. However, we must let the seeds germinate as we tend to other demands around us. When we surrender our expectation of a bountiful harvest and participate in community activities that uplift others, our harvest will still bear fruit,” said Grandpa in a strong, persuasive voice.
“My Papa has done all those things, so why hasn’t he been chosen? Why does he have to be disgraced each season when the announcements go out? How long must he wait?” Uzo persisted.
Uzo’s Grandpa and father smiled. Her mother, Nne, on the other hand, reached over to silence her seemingly petulant child.
“No, Nne, let her speak. She is a wise child, and her questions are lessons to add to the stirring pot of life.” Grandpa admonished his daughter-in-law, and she sat back and let Uzo be. He continued his teachings for the gathering of family members and neighbors who showed up to listen and learn, as they sat around that cold, night fire.
“My child, in our village, we follow the teachings of the nine virtues: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Self-Reliance, Industriousness, and Perseverance. Each virtue has many parts, and as a man/woman explores and expresses an understanding of each one, the village observer notes their progress through the Griots who then pass the name on to the other Elders in the Order. Once the first eight are mastered, the test to master the ninth virtue begins…. Without perseverance, even the most talented will falter and fall. But Perseverance alone is not enough because many fall victim to the voice of doubt that creeps in after many moons of waiting, hoping, and longing…”
“If there is something more to learn beyond perseverance, what would it be, Grandpa?” Uzo interrupted her Grandpa excitedly. Finally, she thought, an answer to the secret would be divulged tonight, and she’d be able to put her curiosity to bed and help her Papa join the village Elders for the next procession. Even her Papa was pleased, as he often wondered too, but held his opinions close to his chest.
More below!
“It’s human nature to start taking things for granted again when danger isn’t banging loudly on the door.” David Hackworth
Inspiration: The Story Behind The Door – Life’s mysteries
Inspiration: The Story Behind The Door – Life’s mysteries
Be an opener of doors. Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is no one, says another, whom fortune does not visit once in his life; but when she does not find him ready to receive her, she walks in at the door, and flies out at the window. Charles de Montesquieu
Grandpa smiled and, picking up the fire pick, stirred the burning embers to get them going again. Everyone in the Obi was silent. You could cut the cold night air with a knife. The crickets fell silent, and even the hoot, hoot of the night owls seemed to fade away. Everyone waited with bated breath for Grandpa’s next insight. He knew what they wanted, and he let them sit and simmer. They all needed to digest the pithy nuggets of wisdom he had shared, to stew in it a bit, and he would speak only when the words came fully to his throat from his heart. There was no other way to speak.
After what seemed like an interminable length of time, Grandpa smiled and, looking around at each eager face staring at him across the bonfire, he returned to each one a blessing filled with healing and good intentions. Again, he spoke.
“My wise child, beyond perseverance is surrender. When we wake up in the morning, we offer our oblations to the ancestors without much thought of how we got out of bed or how we walked to the outhouse to relieve ourselves of last night’s feast. We act because we have surrendered our innate desire to control them. They have become second nature, and so all goes accordingly.” Grandpa paused, picked up his metal cup, and poured the dregs of palm wine into the now-smoldering fire. He mumbled a prayer and continued.
“So, my child, by the same token, Perseverance and Surrender are twins on the road to true, inner freedom. When your Papa reaches that point of no return, the last door will open from within, and the dictates of the Village Crier will no longer bind him… When that moment arrives, the ancestral divination of his membership in the Order … or not … will be realized. When we take the time to pay attention to what is in front of us, our worldview and opportunities for growth will expand. Some have eyes but cannot see! Let us all be grateful for the here and now and allow the unfolding of life to continue.” Grandpa rubbed his hands together and, standing up, announced it was time to turn in for the night.
At that moment, Uzo, her father, her mother, and the gathering of family and neighbors got the message. Being present in the actions and activities of the here and now carried enormous gravitas, and that was enough for them.
“Good night, Grandpa. Thank you!” Uzo finally spoke and then followed her parents to their hut for the night. A new day awaited, and before the early morning cock crowed, they needed to get their rest.
A WordPress Prompt inspired this post: Discover Challenge: The Story Behind a Door – For this Discover Challenge, let’s focus on a door. You’re free to interpret this challenge as you see fit, and respond in any genre or medium, as long as a door — real or imagined — is your primary inspiration. For this challenge, the door is wide open. We look forward to your submissions and interpretations! To help other participants and new fans find your response in the Reader, tag your post with #DiscoverWP. Not sure how to add a tag? Learn more.
Positive Motivation Tip: In life, we choose some doors, and some doors choose us. Embrace all with gratitude.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos: Door via Pixabay and Door via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Your storytelling is amazing and is definitely relatable. I try to embrace every door I enter with either gratitude upfront or with grace knowing there is a reason fo each path.
I love red doors. I have heard that they ward off evil spirits. I wish my door was painted red.
Very well written. I agree, that while we chose some doors, other doors are chosen for us. It’s hard to know where a door is going to lead, or why. But they are all important.
The tale is charming and the doors, of course, are beautiful and meaningful. I am always drawn to doors when I travel and there are as many in the world, all different, as there are choices for us to make.
I love the story! I do think that perseverance is key. It’s not always going to be easy but you have to keep going.
Thank you for taking the time to read the story… Perseverance is truly a great quality/virtue. As Grandpa advised in the story: When we take the time to really pay attention to what is in front of us, our world view and opportunity for growth expands. Some have eyes but cannot see! <3
I used to be obsessed with pictures of doors. I love all the colors, but I especially love imagining what is behind those doors.
Such beautiful doors. I remember doing my own little door photo collection in Savanah Ga (USA). What I enjoyed was noticing things in the pics that I didn’t see when I was taking the pic.
First of all, I must say this story is really great especially the nine virtues: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Self Reliance, Industriousness, and Perseverance part is just awesome.Yes I think we should always serve without any expectation and reward, but most people don’t follow this. Nice article,very well written.
That David Hackworth quote is amazing. It’s so true and it applies to all of us because it really is human nature.
Always love how doors can mean such beautiful things to different people. Such an inspiring post! 😀
You’re a gifted writer per excellence Liz. What a tale you weave, so effortlessly!
A wonderful story.
We have to keep going, what a great message, perseverance is definitely a good trait. I love this post!
What an inspirational story! Yet again, your post has me thinking about my life and my choices. I like choosing doors, rather than having them choose me!
Oh wow! I love all of these doors. I have a strange fascination with doors. Maybe a lot of people do 🙂 I have never heard the story of the doors. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love this post! I’m persistent when it comes to knocking on doors, but yet I never kick them down. Doors can tell you many things if you observe them properly!
Honestly Elizabeth, my life has been all about opening and closing doors. I have yet to open that special door that will give me the life I have always dreamed of having.
I have been talking about closing doors today… 🙂
The story was very interesting. I find that people find it hard to serve without expecting something in return.
Be an opener of doors. Ralph Waldo Emerson – this hits home. I mean, this quote applies to our life in general.
What an amazing story – sometimes you have to just keep trying and believing. x
Love your post! My favorite door is the green one, I may not know what’s behind but I love to open it!
I love this post thank you so much for sharing it!
Every door has a different destination than the other one. The time I am about to open a new door when I was young, I am afraid to do it.
That was a really neat story and I love the message. Never give up 🙂
That is a great story and love being reminded that we don’t always choose the door-the door choses us
I would choose the purple door. I like bright colors so that would influence my selection.
Staying positive helps in stories like this. Preservation goes along way.
This is a beautiful story. I think we often take things for granted and it isn’t until the door slaps us in the face (no pun intended) that we wake up and smell the roses!
Perseverance and surrender. I can totally relate to that. When things get overwhelming, you can (must) persevere but there also comes a point where you just have to let go and let God (is what my best friends would say).
Such a great story! Love the metaphors.
I really enjoyed reading the story and can certainly appreciate how it is human nature to take things for granted! It’s important to remember that even when there’s no banging on the door.
This is a neat way of looking at things. What door should on go through. The one door which is good for someone might not be the right one for someone else.
What a cool story! I love the message!
Blimey! What an intriguing story about Uzo. Yes as grandpa said it, we need to be more aware of what’s right in front of us. Brilliant post, I really don’t know how you come up with such amazing and thought provoking posts week after week. Teach me sensei hahha.
If opportunity doesn’t come a knockin, well, build the damn door :-p
Gratitude, that’s something I haven’t been doing much of. Love the story, very profound 🙂
I love the story behind the 9 doors and the quote is so true and motivational. Love the pictures of the doors too..
“It’s human nature to start taking things for granted again when danger isn’t banging loudly on the door.” David Hackworth – that is so true, so often I see that when the crisis is over people go right back to doing things they way they did before.
we never know what is behind the door or in the message life is a dance that we all must take part in
I love the story and totally agree with your positive motivational tip that ‘In life, we choose some doors, and some doors choose us. Embrace all with gratitude!’ Life is short and therefore we shouldn’t have grudges with anyone!
We can’t keep going without perseverance, amazing story. So inspiring
This is indeed an awesome story and it is truly inspirational. There are indeed life lessons in every part of life when we recognize them we move on to another. In my option each door that opens we grow and move to the next. Thanks for sharing this awesome story.
My friend just wrote a beautiful piece about doors… and how she hates some of them because of what they mean in her life at that moment. But she always keeps going and getting stronger. And she knows she has to keep opening those doors to keep getting ahead and getting answers. Love this piece.
I love this story and the doors was so colorful love all the colors
When I saw your theme and photos of doors, the first thing that came to my mind was Hodor, the character from Game of Thrones who made the ultimate sacrifice of holding the door against the enemies so his friends can escape. The story you just shared is very inspiring. We need those virtues in our lives as we face each day with challenges ahead of us. In the end, those same virtues will bring us rewards we cannot even fathom. -Claire Algarme
I like this story! Perseverance is very important! Love your post!
What a very inspiring story this was, Eliz. I think it’s nice to be able to teach kids the value of perseverance, without it we won’t be able to achieve most of our goals. I love that after that comes surrender, that’s when we finally accept that we have done all within our power as well.
This quote ““Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” Joseph Campbell” really made a mark on me today. Thank you for the inspiration.
I liked the quote by Joseph Campbell. I often think that doors symbolizes opportunities. If you don`t knock, it won`t open.
I really like such unique, lively and colourful doors. They are so welcoming & pretty. Saw some lovely doors in Amsterdam.
It’s a nice story. I like that doors can be some sort of a road block but when it opens, it’s gonna lead you to something better.
There’s a story for everything here on earth and the doors too! It’s a personal view for everyone of us to decipher in which right must prevail always. We must open our minds to our lives that we want. Fernando Lachica
Such a beautiful story! Agree at some point of time everyone will showcase their mastery over the first 8 virtues but perseverance to be persistent in their good deeds is very difficult.
Which door to choose today and which one will choose me – good questions! Great story! The door challenge is also interesting. I find doors inspiring,nd I’m a fan of red doors. Even have my own entrance door painted in red in and outside altough the others in the house have it in green.
I love the quote urging us to be openners of doors — and the graphic. I like the thought that we should surrender our days as we wake.
I love all of those colorful doors and the story behind the door. I have found that when one door closes, another one opens so I’m always paying attention to what is in front of me.
Wonderful thoughts! Some doors are indeed attractive and you are eager to look what’s in there, but without the keys, the right ones, you will never know.
I’ve always loved photos of beautiful, unique doors. I love the colours of the ones you posted.
I like to enter a door which is strange to me and find out what;s behind it. Great story!
I have to say that in my lifetime I have had quite a couple of doors. Some that were wide and open to me and some that took work to build. Looking back on it now i see that each one brought about great change sin my life as long as I was patient.
I went to make a coffee before reading this so I could sit back, relax and enjoy, great story! Gratitude is definitely key to excepting and embracing each day of our lives
This is perfect right now as I am trying a new venture and I could use a little reminder that it takes time to get some where and perseverance is the way to go!
You’re such a skilled story teller – just like the grandpa in this story. 😉 I love when stories offer wisdom and insight into your journey.
Interesting challenge you were faced with, I love your story! The quotes you have included along the way have made me think a bit harder about embracing opportunities in life.
I love doors with character and color. I’m most drawn to the first one since I love the color turquoise but I also love the double blue doors, so unique! Interesting article, thanks for sharing.
I was enthralled and completely a part of the audience waiting for the grandfather’s reply. This story was chock full of thought igniters.
Grandpa is a wise man and he is completely right when we appreciate what we have and what is there already the world we live in takes new meaning.
I choose the door of possibilities, opportunities, happiness, peace, love, and family. Those are the only doors I open and welcome opening.
Life is full of uncertainties indeed but throughout our journey, I believe that we will definitely reach the point of understanding what may seem to be difficult before. You got good share here.
What an interesting collection of photos. Some doors can really be eye-catching. When travelling in Europe, my attention is really caught by the ornate doors of the various Churches there. All of them have an interesting story to tell behind them.
The story was very long but, it was all worth the read. I love the story. I also was as curious as Uzo.
That’s a beautiful story. Perseverance is a virtue and a difficult one. Not only does it affect us also others around us, esp depending on us!
My mantra is to always persevere no matter how big challenges you face. Love the colorful doors too.
I love doors! I have actually made sculptures inspired by doors!
After reading this post it opened a lot of realizations on my end 🙂 Thank You!
Sometimes the door that we chose may not lead to the life that we wanted. Nevertheless don’t give up we can still find alternative or look for another door means another path of life.
Beautiful perspective about doors. Some doors we open and some of them I wouldn’t”open.
A beautiful post with some great collection of beautiful looking doors. The Joseph Campbell quote is so motivating and the story of Uzo is quite amazing as well. Thanks for inspiring.
I had never heard of the story of the Ceremony of Nine Doors and love the inspiring lessons we can learn from it. Embracing all doors with gratitude is truly motivational.
What a wonderful little story. There’s a lot to learn in that little eye niblet.
Some lovely quotes here! My favorite is be an opener of doors – it leaves me with such a powerful message.
This is beautiful. Not everyone puts value to perseverance, especially these days, because people want everything express & instant. It won’t be easy but like what the Grandpa in the story said, it’s important that we pay attention to what is in front of us. It’s equally important to listen and be patient.
Some says that every door that we knock has something that we need to deal with it. We cannot choose which door we can go through, but one thing is for sure we just need to accept and look on the bright side of it.
I love this – I am going to try and remember it in the future thank you.
Remember what?
Those are pretty good door but they remind of this quote “have faith in god when a door closed on you another door will open up with amazing opportunity, thank you for sharing this wonderful story
This is so worth the read. Perseverance is very important, especially nowadays that you can get almost anything you need in an instant.
What a fascinating story that really left a lot of food for thought too. Great stuff!
As a hope-to-be future author, I learned a lot from your work, both figuratively and emotionally, thank you for this beautiful post.
Thank you and best wishes on your novel. Keep us posted! 🙂
I hadn’t considered how much symbolism there is with doors. Your story is a lovely one and reminds me that sometimes life finds us.
This is the type of story you tell your kids so that you can inspire them to do more. Perseverance is a value that will take us to places and it’s something that we must teach them while they’re young. It’s one of the values that will teach them to keep going, regardless of the challenges that they face.
These doors are beautiful! I love the imagery of doors and life – as they say, when one door closes, another one opens!
I enjoyed reading this story about life.
It is indeed true that perseverance is key. And surrendering to the love and care of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you for sharing.
That’s a great prompt. I remember when I was younger I would hear “knock, and it shall be opened.” You really won’t know what’s on the other side of the door unless you knock. Perseverance is something that I’m working on. It can get hard at times, but I believe if I keep at it, I will reach my goals.
I sometimes have the thinking that if the doors don’t open for you (if opportunities don’t come), bust through those doors and make those opportunities happen. Or if they doors won’t open, go through the window. Especially for me now, I try extra harder to make opportunities happen because life calls for it.
Lovely story! We have to face every situation in life with the best attitude! Keep it strong and together!
Absolutely LOVE this: “A very little key will open a very heavy door.” Charles Dickens
What a nice story. It was kinda long but worth the read. perserverance and Surrender really goes hand in hand and is applicable even in this modern day and age.
Every door leads to a new possibility! Also, I love brightly coloured doors on neutral homes – such a great look!
Surrender is never easy, especially when it is needed. We know it is hard to give up yet sometimes that is just what we need to do to be able to move on. Great story!
Ohhh! Metaphors! I love how you shared this story 🙂
Woooow very inspiring. Love the story never thought of it this way
You know what they say, when a door closes (even if it’s a beautiful door), a window will open instead, and who knows what beautiful garden lies beneath it.
love all the great combinations I think it would be so fun to pick a new color for the front door
behind everyone door is different. we are encountering diff struggles in life yet some yet seem to find the purpose of their life and don’t know how to handle stress
Love those colorful doors! I believe that in life, we will never know something without opening the doors to see the other side of life. We wouldn’t know that outcome if we did not try.
What a lovely story, I like the idea of expressing the nine virtues as a path of progression towards deeper meaning and understanding.
What intriguing photos of doors. To me closed doors means another one is waiting to be opened.