The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage. (Psalm 16:6, NRSV)
One thing you’ll learn should you ever spend time in a psych hospital is that there are a lot of rules. Rules about food. Rules about noise. Rules about visiting. Rules about movies and television. Rules about toiletries and other personal effects.
Since I am one who likes to have good, clear boundaries, these rules didn’t bother me so much. There are other people, though, who are constantly trying to get around the rules.
Like the man who found the staff person willing to bring him Starbucks coffee (at a price, no doubt) to replace what passed as coffee from the cafeteria.
Like the woman who gained permission to use the exercise room during off hours as a space to listen to loud Hip Hop music on her boom box.
Like the couple who found a way to prop a broom against the laundry room door so they could get around the “no-fraternization-with-the-opposite-sex” rule.
One thing we ultimately have to learn as psych patients (and people as a whole) is that rules are generally good for us — especially those given by God. They help establish clear, consistent boundaries within which was can live safely and safely let others live. Only when we have good, firm boundaries can we survive (and even thrive) within this crazy, unpredictable world.
Praise be to God who gives us such boundaries for life, as the Psalmist says –
“You have fixed all the bounds of the earth.” (Psalm 74:19, NRSV)
Wonderfully written, and a big ‘amen!’ to God’s rules!
The Pistol fires back: Thanks and welcome to Therapy. Come again soon.