The Amazing Value Of Boundary Lines and Ancient Landmarks

“Do not remove the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.”  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Some time ago, I read the book Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. I heard about this book on the two good doctors’ radio shows as well as the Dave Ramsey show.
First published in 1992, I checked out a copy from our local library. Although I do not intend to review the book, I recommend that you add it to your reading list. It got me thinking a lot about boundary lines in general and how they apply to me.
boundaryIn some ways, it relates to the margins idea I wrote about in The Value of Margins – A Lesson From Ladders and Air Traffic Control.   However, margins are the space that surround and protect certain boundaries and may not be associated with every sort of boundary.  A boundary is defined as:
  1. a line that marks the limits of a geographical area; a dividing line,  “the eastern boundary of the wilderness”
  2. a limit of a subject or sphere of activity.  “A community without class or political boundaries.”
synonyms:  border, frontier, partition, dividing line, divide, division, borderline, cutoff point
Origin-early 17th century: variant of dialect bounder, from bound2 + -er1, perhaps on the pattern of limitary.

Pushing Or Honoring Boundaries?

In looking for a stimulating quote on boundaries, I was intrigued to see how many were about pushing, going past, changing, or disregarding real or perceived boundaries.  There were many quotes about establishing one’s boundaries without regard to how it affects others, a sort of throwing caution to the wind, “I want out of jail free” sort of feel.
It seems these days we don’t care for the idea of boundaries.  Yet, they do exist.  In reality we we need them, and secretly, we want them.  Proverbs, a book of wisdom, clearly says to “not remove the ancient landmark”.  The word landmark comes from a word that means “a twisted cord” as in one used as a boundary marker,  a limit, a bound.  Boundaries get a bad rap and I want to explore the value of boundaries.

Trust But Verify….

Do not get me wrong; I am all for exploring boundaries, examining the edges, and evaluating the boundaries in which we are operating.  Yet, to what end?  I propose it is to discover the “ancient boundaries”:  Those that have been set and should not be moved.  Then, concerning those, moving or eliminating boundaries that are limiting, ill-fitting, or just plain wrong.
Here is the good news: Despite how they may look at first, the “ancient” boundaries actually free and open up space to us rather than close us in.  I suspect the reason most modern quotes of pushing past boundaries is toward artificial limits set in ways not intended by our Creator.   Following are a few broad areas in which the value of ancient boundaries is revealed:

Internal Boundaries:

– within our spirit, soul, and body.
– within our soul:  mind, will, and emotions.
When we confuse or attempt to get one of these internal areas to do the work of the other, all kinds of issues emerge and not only affect us personally but how we relate externally.

External Boundaries:

– with others:  spouse, immediate family, extended family, friends, co-workers, neighbors.
– Geographical:  property lines, personal property, public and community areas.
– financial:  contracts, budgets, financial accounts.
– personal and public safety:  rules of the road, airspace, public safety laws, even (gasp) the whole conceal and carry thing!
– In our occupations:  Job and position descriptions, titles, and compensation
Have you noticed something?  All of this boundary discussion encompasses one common thread: relationship.  Our relationship with ourselves, others, our environment, money, in other words, with all aspects of creation.  Boundaries are, in fact, a form of communication.
I hope I gave you something to start thinking about.
What other kinds of ancient boundaries, those that exist to form and inform our lives,  come to mind?   Leave your thoughts below.

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