While working in Canada this year, I spent some time in Quebec City, where I got to walk through the first Holy Door outside of Europe. A Holy Door can only be ordained by the Pope and must be granted during a time of celebration known as jubilee. The door is open for one year and then closed for 25 years. Currently there are seven Holy Doors worldwide, all outside of the United States except for the Notre-Dame de Quebec Basilica-Cathedral, which was celebrating 350 years and thus granted a Holy Door.
Walking through the Holy Door is a spiritual passage open not only to Catholics: anyone of good will can walk through the door.
My assistant Heather was with me on this trip and we were eager to walk through the Holy Door. The attendant at the front of the entrance explained to us the significance of what we would experience by walking through.
The idea is that there are a thousand and one passages in a lifetime, yet we can enter into a Holy Door that offers a renewing of the spirit and transformation. I call this in my work, Stepping into a New Truth.
As we entered, we noticed some people praying, others meditating, some looking at the beauty of the building. We then passed through a glass partition, looking for a Holy Door.
“Where’s the Holy Door?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” Heather said, a little bewildered.
After we walked out of the church doors we realized, the Holy Door was the glass partition. We walked through the Holy Door and totally missed it!
Later I noticed that Heather was upset. She was blaming it on being thirsty, but I knew better.
“You are upset because you think you missed the Holy Door, aren’t you?”
She admitted that I was correct.
Our experience led me to some enlightened thoughts not only about the Holy Door, but about life and leadership. I want to share them here.
Enlightened Leadership Lesson:
You don’t need a jubilee, a special event, a limited offer, an authority figure, or the allure of a beautiful building to transform your life or your business. As a leader you can choose to step into a new truth through your power to create. No matter your faith, you are always connected to your Source whether you know it or not. The New Year is approaching. There is a chance to walk through a Holy Door of your own making.
Marlene Chism is an executive educator, consultant, and author of Stop Workplace Drama, (Wiley 2011) and No-Drama Leadership (Bibliomotion 2015). She works with executives, and high-performing leaders who want to transform culture in the workplace.
