In the womb, a baby sleeps peacefully. Perhaps it’s one of the best comfort zones ever, even though we don’t remember it. Can we stay there forever? It’s a perfect environment to keep life safe and peaceful. You don’t experience pain, fear, or sadness. As it is perfect and ideal, it’s logical to think we should stay there forever. Why not?
Nevertheless, we were born. We venture out of this comfort zone. At the moment of birth, you cried hard. Various forms of discomfort bit at you, altering your peace. Why did we have to break the perfect equilibrium of the womb? We, as vulnerable, naked babies, were brutally exposed to the harsh world around. As newborns, we don’t know how to walk and talk. We are entirely helpless.
Who put me in this crazy environment despite my complete inability to stand and live alone independently? Who is so cruel to force me to do so?
In one sense, it’s us who moved ourselves to get out of this comfortable womb. Perhaps we were bored. We were probably curious about the world outside the womb, consciously or unconsciously. But then, as a vulnerable, helpless infant, we don’t have the power to get out of it by ourselves. We are so weak and fearless. Who did it?
It’s Mother.
You cried so hard. You are so helpless and vulnerable. It seems as though all the cruelty of the outside world is about to bombard you, to destroy and kill you eventually.
In the midst of this fearful helplessness, suddenly you hear a kind voice. It sounds so gentle, so warm, so embracing. The voice gently says:
“Happy birthday! Welcome to the world, my baby!”
The voice calls me “My baby!” Is that you, Mother?
You can’t talk and walk, you can’t even stand. But your entire existence tells that person embracing you right now.
“Is that you, Mother?”
“Nice to meet you! Yes, finally we meet each other face to face. You thought my womb was your perfect comfort zone. That’s true to some extent. But not entirely so. You could never meet me face to face until and unless you get out of your comfort zone. If you tried to stay there forever, which was impossible, we would both probably die without ever meeting each other.”
“Don’t worry. I am your world. I will protect you as long as you are with me because I am your Mother and you are my Child.”
The mother’s womb is a metaphor for our comfort zone. Consciously or unconsciously, perhaps selfishly, we are obsessed with staying in our own womb, which could be a circle of people you know well, a set of knowledge you’re familiar with, a room you work from home in during the pandemic, a language or dialect only you speak, or the warm bed you just woke up from. Everything well-known is your womb. Unknown is outside of it. And all the unknown looks so fearful and uncomfortable.
Do you want to lie down on the couch or bed forever? Fine. The consequence is that you lose the muscle strength in your legs and can’t walk anymore. You want to stay comfortable without any physical and mental challenges? Fine. The consequence is that you lose your muscle strength and brain capacity, both literally and figuratively. Is a peaceful retired life ideal? Are you retreating to the womb where you don’t face any challenges or curiosity? You would lose your life. Perfect peace is only in heaven.
Just as we met our Mother on earth when we were born, unless we venture out of our comfort zone, we could never meet our true Protector. In the midst of complete helplessness, we hear the voice of our Mother. We need to overcome all the fear and helplessness to hear the voice of our God in the midst of challenges and difficulties, just like true light can shine through the darkness.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:5
Are you fearful? Are you afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone? Be strong and courageous to overcome these feelings and hear the voice of the Lord.
Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9
Image by Rebecca Scholz
Tom’s Blog 