The Gift of Transitioning Well

Change happens in the blink of an eye.

That split second stroke of a pen.  A clock's steady tick-tock.  The shrill, heart-stopping sound of our phone in the middle of the night.  A calendar page flipped.  That long-dreaded farewell. 

But transitions? 

These steady visitors to our lives, so deeply yearned for or completely unbidden, can linger on.  And on.

We've all experienced those seasons that range from mildly discombobulating all the way up to the numbing, excruciating grief of a severed relationship, a death, an abandoning.  A financial upheaval, a health crisis.  A betrayal, a relocation, a denial. 

And the endless waiting spaces in the midst of it all that can leave us a little worse for wear.

And then there are the transitions that breathe fresh life, that kick off brand-new routines, that open doors to long dreamed of opportunities that wait around the next corner.  These are the graces that let you know that the earth keeps spinning, that life goes on, that all will be well. 

I don't know what you're transitioning from.  Or into.  

Many of us tend to be harsh taskmasters ... not necessarily with others, but with ourselves.  We too easily race forward without considering where we've come from or what we've been through.  

Unfinished business lies in our wake.  We don't take a breath to reflect on the ramifications of what has happened to us or in us.  We haven't taken the opportunity to glean truth from our experiences or seek the counsel of those a few steps ahead on the journey.  

Or sit quietly to discern what our precious Savior is whispering to us in our frantic hearts. 

Fear of missing the boat causes our minds to become unfocused.  We tend to react hastily to all that's coming at us, instead of choosing to prayerfully respond.  Fear is a lousy foundation for decision making, leaving us stressed, confused, disappointed, and frustrated.

Half the time we don't even know where we're going or why we've chosen to head there.  And we wonder why we start to get crispy as we begin to burn out along the way.

When someone gives us a gift, it usually brings us a gratitude-laced joy.  Grace and space are gracious gifts that Christ offers us.  In showing ourselves that merciful lovingkindness needed to transition well, we begin to breathe easier.  We honor Christ as we pray and search the Scriptures.  We allow the Spirit to lead the way at His pace, not ours.  

And in the process, our faith expands, our emotional health grows, our decision making process becomes more purposeful.  That 'peace that passes understanding' begins to reign.  We don't burn bridges, miss quiet opportunities, or lose out on unexpected invitations.

Move forward?  Yes.

Follow the Leader.  He'll take you where He wants you to be, one step at a time.

Be prepared to be amazed.  

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Proverbs 3: 5-6

Do you have a transition story to tell?

Linda

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