The Bent Gate and the Beautiful Tree

Stanley Britsh Primary School

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

Julian of Norwich

One person will look at this photograph and notice the bent post in the wrought-iron gate. Another will be captivated by the brilliant colors of the tree beyond it. Is it a beautiful photograph, or is it marred by the bent post? As with so much in life, the answer often depends on what we choose to focus on.

I realize not everyone agrees that our thoughts shape our lives. In fact, my son affectionately refers to it as my “hippy-dippy philosophy.” He may be partly right. I’ve read more than my share of books, attended lectures, and sat through seminars on the power of positive thinking. Somewhere along the way, I adopted the philosophy.

But I didn’t come to believe it simply because someone said I should. I believe it because I’ve seen it at work—in my own life and in the lives of others. A positive outlook doesn’t erase disappointment or hardship, but it often changes the way we face them. It reminds me of the little engine that kept repeating, “I think I can. I think I can.”

A dear friend gave me a silver bracelet engraved with my favorite quote by Julian of Norwich: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”Julian of Norwich was a fifteenth-century English mystic and theologian, and she is widely regarded as the first woman to write a book in English.

Over the years I’ve also come to realize that my outlook isn’t simply about hope. Julian of Norwich wasn’t ignoring suffering when she wrote, “All shall be well.” She was expressing a deep trust that, even in life’s uncertainty, God was present. Perhaps that’s the distinction. Hope doesn’t deny the bent gate. It simply refuses to believe it’s the whole story.

Every so often, I catch myself slipping into negative thinking. When that happens, I have to consciously redirect my thoughts toward a more hopeful outlook. It isn’t about pretending life is perfect or ignoring reality. It’s about refusing to let the bent post become the whole picture.

Again and again, I’ve seen how my mindset influences the way I experience life. When I expect only obstacles, that’s often all I notice. When I remain open to possibility, I find the courage to keep trying, to recognize opportunities, and to appreciate the beauty that was there all along.

For me, life has always moved forward more easily with “I think I can” than with “I think I can’t.” We may not control every circumstance, but we can choose where we place our attention. Sometimes that simple choice makes all the difference.

Peace be with you.