Crossing the line can be liberating or lead to pain

Lines and the crossing thereof have played a significant part in life on Earth in a myriad ways since the advent of people and animals on our planet.

Boundaries and limits have conspired to constrain natural urges to explore, innovate, risk and experience new things during the normal course of life.

But there are always those who are prepared to cross the line, take risks and push the boundaries. This principle applies at all levels and in all walks of life.

Hilary Clinton’s thoughts are perhaps worthy of consideration in the field of relationships: “Over the years, so many of the barriers that prevented people from getting married, crossing lines of faith or colour or ethnicity have just disappeared. Because what’s important is: “Are you making a responsible decision? Have you thought it through? Do you understand the consequences?” And I think in the world that we’re in today we need more of that.”

Of course there are negative connotations to the concept of crossing the line in many cases. In friendships and relationships there are certain actions or comments that sometimes go beyond the bounds of acceptability.

Conflicts and confrontations are often characterised by one or more of the parties breaking the rules and crossing the line of conventional tolerance.

Personality weaknesses and character flaws often underlie actions of this nature. Greed and the pursuit of power play a role in such affairs of mankind.

Sadly in our country, new depths of corruption, gangsterism and crossing the line of honesty and fair play have been honed to a fine art. In the murky world of politics, what is purposely hidden from the view of the general public is almost invariably fraught with actions and deals that go way beyond the line of integrity.

What has been emerging from various commissions of inquiry is a disturbing litany of seismic proportions of grand theft, deception, manipulation and self-enrichment. State institutions have been robbed and their ability to serve the nation, diminished.

The rule of law in our country is being put to the test as never before, and those who cling to the hope of deliverance from this morass of institutionalised crime are waiting with bated breath for effective steps to be taken by government and law enforcement agencies.

Is this a forlorn hope?

The first president of our young democracy, Nelson Mandela, and Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson (2001-2005), who headed our first Constitutional Court, would certainly have been appalled by what has become endemic in this country of such great promise.

Current leaders would be well-advised to study and adopt the wisdom for good governance embodied in Chief Justice Chaskalson’s speech delivered at the “Challenges Facing Administrative Justice,” conference at the University of Cape Town titled: “Without fear, favour or prejudice: the courts, the constitution and transformation”.

One of Chaskalson’s early quotes from his student days at the University of the Witwatersrand has particular relevance to the political abyss that is SA today: “The only important question is, ‘what is right and what is wrong’?”

But sadly, many of these leaders appear to have no lines that stop them and seem to subscribe to changing and selfserving goalposts, unconstrained by legality considerations, or what is right and what is wrong.

“Cry the Beloved Country” has never been more compelling a notion than now.

Of course, there is also the finish line in races and numerous sports competitions. Super competitive participants aim to be first to cross the line, but others enjoy the camaraderie experienced and sheer physical enjoyment of the exercise involved.

As Ralph Boston asserts, there is much more to life than crossing the line first. Those people are winners in only one phase of life, which is less important than what they do after crossing the line.

On another level, lines and barriers should not be allowed to constrain the activities and achievements of our life journeys to the detriment of realising our potential. This is reflected in the view of Shonda Rhimes, that our decisions must consider how lines and boundaries fence us in when we should be crossing them.

In this day and age, there is no escaping the influence of social media. This has introduced a whole new dimension of lines and boundaries that would fill many pages on cautions and advisories regarding their effects on our lives.

Suffice it to propose that: “Your worth is not measured in likes, comments, notes or followers; but in your ability to love, keep comments to yourself, take note and lead.”Jelly