Property Lines
Human nature sets property lines. We don't want
people crossing into our business.
It's not a matter of anything nefarious or
illegal. It's a matter of having time and space to
ourselves so we don't have to put up facades and
where we can invest time in what we want and where
what we think is important. People crossing into
our space interrupt our control of our private
realm.
The borders humanity sets up range from subtle to
militaristic. Crossing a border can be anything
from provoking to helping someone in need or from
awkward to life threatening. Crossing a boundary
can be a serious business and not all of us bother
or take the chance.
I wonder then, would civilization ever have
evolved if some of us had not dared to cross borders
at one time or another. Sure we all have, but many
of us resist and hesitate. If a property line is
state sanctioned, such as a surveyors mark or fence
post, it can be a criminal offense to cross the
line, not to mention borders of countries. If we
are in a room, however, with a group of people, we
respect each others 'space' but are expected at
times to cross over into that space and converse or
interact. Then again in a public setting it can be
a disfiguring infraction to invade someone's space
unless invited and few of us will take the risk.
So who then was first to cross the line? Who was
first to reach over the fence and introduce
themselves. Who was first to cross the bridge and
shake hands.
It seems to take a certain, rare, type of
individual who can reach across boundaries and build
trust. My father was such a person. He always made
it a point to put others ahead of himself. He
always seemed to take it in stride that others were
there to say hello to, or shake their hand, or give
them a place in line while still respecting
boundaries with the right amount of impetus to cross
into their space. He easily broke down property
lines. All neighbors were friends. He could easily
strike up a conversation and developed an extended
trust between himself and others and brought groups
together in the same manner.
So my question is, back in the olden days, when
two people were walking down a road, and a stranger
came up, who was the first to put out his hand or
sword? And if we didn't have the first, would there
ever be civilization as we know it?
