There’s wonder in the wait. Yes, there is the “I-wonder-if-they’ll-ever-turn-it-in” aspect to wait and wonder, but I am talking about a different wonder. I am talking about the simple act of leaving the door open and the wonder that follows when they finally walk through the door.

For too many years I thought the door was set to a timer. It had to close. Time was up. Deadlines and due dates have doors. This made sense to me. So I shut the door. And for a time sadly, I slammed the door by attaching penalties to their irresponsible behaviors. It was the way, and many around me confirmed this with their own “Sorry, we’re closed” late-work policies.

That was then. I have since opened myself and my door to invite possibility. I have no “closed” sign. In fact, I took the door off its hinges. It’s always open–because I never know when they may decide to enter.

Last night, according to the time stamps on the emails, Kat (name changed) showed up at my door at 10:55 PM and continued to pass in and out until 2:33 AM this morning, turning in every missing assignment for the quarter. It was the first of any work she’s turned in. And I wonder.

I wonder what changed, what motivated? There is wonder in this for me. I don’t marvel and wonder at the kids who always turn in their work on time. I wonder and marvel at the kids who finally find their way to the door. There is something to that I think. Yes, some would call it irresponsible behavior. But I find a certain beauty in it, and I would hate to have ruined these important steps of her journey by presenting a closed door at the destination. She got through it–whatever it was. She made the journey. And she found the door open when she arrived.

Yes, it would be ideal if she and all my kids met their deadlines. But working with humans is rarely ideal. I learned this long ago. And in my learning, I discovered the decision of the door is mine to make. And I choose to leave it open. While I wait and wonder.

Happy Friday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.