Transition: Can this be OVER now?

Transition.
So what goes through your mind when you read that word?

My immediate thoughts go to the first time I heard that word transition, as a young mother-to-be.  I was reading my book and came to the part where they described what takes place once the actual labor process had begun.  Some of you may have read that same book....you know, the one that told us labor was all about breathing correctly, and if your partner squeezed your ankle at just the right time you could 'ride' out any contraction.  Right.  (Somewhere after I had dilated to 8, I forgot reading that page and threatened to disembowel anyone who touched me, let alone squeezed my ankle...).

Transition, as defined by the dictionary, is "a passage from one state, subject, or place to another." And another further definition says "an abrupt change in energy state or level".

Change. Passage. Abrupt.  

Scary words perhaps to some who may have a negative perspective on changing, passages, and especially if they are happening ABRUPTLY!!!  Is that you?  Sorry....just putting that last word in caps probably gave you the willies, yeah?

Myself, I love change.

Rearrange the furniture.  Freshen bulletin boards.  From blonde to brown to both.  Instead of a Lesson Plan, go outside.  Add a new unheard-of ingredient to my 40 year-old recipe.

Passages have been a joy for me.

Stay- at- home mommy to part time waitress.  Daily devotions and quiet time to teaching classes to international students and pastors.  Full house to empty-nest and only the two of us.

Abrupt brings to my mind the word surprise.  And I love surprises!  Giving them and getting them!

So why is it, we often have such a hard time during those transitions that our Lord brings to us?

(Well, in the case of child birth, in my opinion, it depends greatly on the teacher of those classes!  If they are honest, upfront, revealing, and don't try to make you believe its as "simple and natural as a tiny flower pushing its way through the soil"....REALLY??!.... then, perhaps you can brace yourself and prepare for it physically, mentally and emotionally.  Maybe.)

But when it comes to those Life Transitions....where God has you waiting for what He has promised you....it is absolutely imperative that one listen carefully and take notes from The Teacher in order to make it to the next level.

For those of you who just said "Oh, I'm not a note-taker, I'll get it!" : may I warn you ever so nicely, that when you are truly in the throes of transition, chances are great that you will NOT be able to recall most of what He brought to you before it hit!  I love what a popular Bible teacher recently said after her divorce and the death of her grown daughter: "When you are in the dark, remember what He said to you in the light."    So get a notebook or use those blank pages in the back of your Bible. Write it down.

And while The Teacher is giving you instruction, maybe you can profit from some of the lessons I have learned---and AM learning---while in transition myself.

DON'T PUSH.

During childbirth, if you start to push during transition it will NOT help the baby be born.  In fact, it can delay it's arrival, due to your swollen cervix that has not fully dilated.

So it is with those dreams, goals and promises.  Don't try to push your way in (or out!); don't force circumstances or contacts or relationships.  Just go one day at a time and let things happen naturally. I admit this is TOUGH, especially if you are a 'do-er' like me, and it 'looks' like nothing is happening!

CHECK YOUR "GOD, YOU SAID..." FILE OFTEN.

On the wallpaper of my phone is the phrase "Lord, You said..."    It is a constant reminder to check my heart for His Word(s) to me.

Sometimes its a video teaching sent to me from a friend as encouragement, and didn't even realize it was the very answer I had prayed for that morning.

Or it could be that song...the one that says EXACTLY what you would say if Jesus was standing right in front of you in your bedroom where you've dropped to the floor in a surrendered heap.

Clippings from devotions you cut out and stuffed in your wallet; prophetic words given directly to you from a man/woman of God;  a memento of a day He met you on your exercise walk that said "I'm here, trust Me."

Go to that file and remind yourself what your Abba Father has said will come, will be yours.

KEEP BUSY DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW.

When my Kindergarteners know it is a special "party day"....I try to fill the day with activity and work leading up to that fun hour.   Even though it was early morning when I told them it would be at the end of the day (an eternity for those 5 year-olds!) they are always pleasantly surprised how fast the time passed!  

So it is in transition.

Read that new book you bought and haven't started yet.   Make coffee dates and dinner plans with friends and family you haven't seen lately.  Splurge on yourself and get a new outfit or pair of shoes, or both!  Spend the weekend out of town.  Watch a movie you think is not your style, but a friend has been bugging you for years to try.  Play golf TWICE in one week!  Find a cause you believe in and get involved, even its only an hour or two a week/month.

If you work outside your home, write down and answer some honest questions for yourself.

Do I contribute the most I possibly can to this place?
Is there something I could change to make things easier for a co-worker or my boss?
If I left this job, would I leave some sort of legacy in my place, or would they do the dance of joy on my exit? (I'm thinking of that monastery scene when Ace Ventura leaves....lol)

Don't get caught in the mindset that because you know something new is coming you figure it is ok to just sit and do the same 'ole, same 'ole.   WRONG.  Fill those empty moments, those unsure days of waiting, waiting, waiting with something.  Time will pass much quicker, I promise.

One of my favorite pastors said recently "Transition is a very difficult, uncomfortable place to be in for this main reason:  you are not 'back there', but neither are you 'there'."   OH MY, OH MY.  That nailed it for me.

Just like giving birth, when you hit transition there is no going back (the baby IS coming) but you don't see or hold that precious bundle as yet either (do I care what it looks like, no! just come OUT!).......So, when I find myself in a Life Transition I will:

....breeeeeathe slowly, taking in His grace and love that brings much-needed strength to my exhausted mind and emotions;

....hone in on the days' focal point that keeps me on task, reminding me its not just about ME, that others can and will be helped even in small ways, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day;

....rest in between 'contractions', those moments when its quiet and I can hear His voice and feel His touch, even when I can't see His face as yet.

Transition.  Whew.  Not a fun place to be.

But oh, the reward.

II Corinthians 2:9   "What no eye has seen, no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived, the things God has prepared for those who love Him..."

Now THAT'S How to Say Goodbye

In the past year or so I've had to say farewell to some very dear friends as they passed from this life to eternity.

Diane, my friend of over 50 years left unexpectedly.  Just days before her death we had spent a wonderful six days on a road trip to her beautiful home in Oregon.  Now, without warning; a stroke, surgery, life support....then a memorial service.

My other friend, Nana, age 89, was actually family by marriage and a hoot to hang out with.  Her frail body finally gave in to the cancer that had tormented her for much too long.  The last time I visited with her she told me she was tired, and so ready to go to heaven. "I'm pretty sure I'm done here," she said with a smile.

Both had beautiful celebration services.  Yes, I said celebration, because that's exactly what we did at what some still call a 'funeral'. There was music (not those spooky organ tunes either!); lots of laughter and tears as we heard cherished stories about those women we had grown to love so much.  Oh...and let's not forget the incredible food we all ate after saying our final farewells.  More memories shared over tacos, pasta, dessert and coffee.  More laughter, more tears.

God seems to delight in sending me, what I call a 'postcard from heaven' when I need an extra bit of confirmation that what I'm walking through is NOT going unnoticed by Him.

Let me give you an example.  Maybe two.

My friend Diane had an incredible sense of humor. After her service at her hometown's mortuary, the family and guests were invited to a luncheon of her favorite foods in another large room in the building.  Okaaaaaay, I have to admit it felt a bit odd eating tacos just a room away from my friend lying in a satin box.  We voted not to join in the festivities, but did want to say hello to a few folks I hadn't seen in years.

We walked silently through the lobby, pale green walls covered with family portraits and framed acknowledgements. Obviously this mortuary business had been a pillar in the community.  This was confirmed as the "history" of their craft was now proudly displayed in glass cases, lining the hallway to the taco feed.  I swallowed hard and winced at the sight of archaic knives, drills and stitching needles....then I heard laughter.  Yes, it was my daughters who also thought it a strange pathway to the 'fellowship hall'.  But the laughter I heard was that of my friend.  Diane herself was cracking up at this unusual exhibit....and suddenly my sorrow was turning to joy.   If anyone could think of some witty one liners to fit this situation, it would have been Di!  Thanks, God.  That was a good one!

And then He sent a love note as well.   This one was addressed to not only myself, but to our other mutual life long friend, Carmen.

We had chosen to forego the crowded fellowship room and instead went to lunch at Diane's favorite Mexican food hangout.  We were told by family we had plenty of time before the graveside motorcade took place.   However, when we returned to the mortuary, everyone was long gone.

We drove up just as the crowd was dispersing, the myriad of flowers being placed reverently by the caretakers.  When they had finished, they stood quietly for a few seconds---a nice touch compared to the harsh pounding of the backhoe I had experienced so many times before at funerals, ICK.

At first we felt horrible, missing out on the final words spoken over our dear buddy.  We were able to give our condolences to Jim, her husband and Brad, her son as they prepared to leave.  Lots of hugs, tears and words everyone says when you don't know what to say.  And then it was just us.

Marshall said it first.  "You guys get to say goodbye all by yourself."

Carmen wasn't ready to say goodbye.  I didn't want to say goodbye.  Kim wasn't sure what to say period.  So I had her do what I knew she should always do.  Sing.  (Diane loved Kim's voice.  On one of our road trips Kim had serenaded us with some of Di's favoritie hymns, and she joined in with harmony and tears.  Kim thought we were all nuts but we kept her going!)

It was our very own private farewell, just like Marshall said.  The flowers weren't the usual carnations on a stand variety.  Her resting place was enveloped by the most beautiful pots and containers with tropical arrangements I've ever seen.  The rose arrangements were amazing---a huge cascade boasted my favorite large yellow roses, one of which I tucked in my purse.  In the stillness of the moment, we stood on holy ground as my daughter softly sang "It Is Well".  

Thanks, Lord, for that.  For giving two grieving friends laughter AND healing tears, to let us know You are well aware of our broken hearts.

Now that's the way to say goodbye.  For now.

Still the Same

It is 1:45 am on a Friday night....wait, make that Saturday, right?

I thought I was ready for bed but felt You calling me to 'come away'.  Next thing I know I'm here on the office couch searching Your pages for the 'why'.

My eyes keep going back to Hebrews 13:8.

It seems to be sandwiched between tons of exhortation about honoring, respecting, listening to and obeying those who've gone before.  I thought it strange at first how such a profound declaration of YOU is popped in there at that instructive, very practical passage by the author.  Kind of like a commercial during an intense climatic scene in a movie I'm viewing!

But there it is.

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever."

How many times did I read that while sitting in church growing up?  Thousands, no doubt, thousands of times!  As a child, I would look past the pastor, up above his head on the wall behind him were those carved wooden letters, and I would copy each word on the church bulletin practicing my cursive. As a teenager I would doodle it over and over on my notepad to make the service time go faster.As a young adult I recall the feeling of safety and comraderie, seeing it blazened across various church platforms, reminding me "this is where I can trust what I hear, what I see---this is where I belong."

Even as I just wrote that last paragraph You began to make it clear to me.

That IS why its "sandwiched"  between all those reminders.  Reminders of those who have gone before me and instilled in me the faith, the love , the hope I have in You.  Its why I can say with confidence  "Jesus, You ARE the same yesterday, today and forever!"

Mom, Brother Underwood, Sister Morris, Brother Hood, Effie Slagle, Pastor Bob Jones, Pastor Martin, Jerry Butler, Bill Horton and so many more who spoke into my life one way or the other by word and example, that "Jesus Christ, You are the same, yesterday, today and forever!"

Now its men and women like Dr. Harold Dewberry, Joseph Prince, James Robison, Beth Moore, Pastor Steve Miller, T.D.Jakes, Jim Cymbala, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, and of course Jack Hayford.  Their passion for Your Word and for Your people to know that simple yet profound truth keeps me on task, believing what YOU SAID.

In Your Word, You healed all who believed yesterrday.  Even some who needed 'help' with their unbelief.

In Your Word, You gave specific timely direction and guidance to those who cried out for it.

In Your Word, You forgave and began restoring, even while they were still in the muck and mire of the pigpen.

That was Yesterday.

You are still doing it.  TODAY.

And You'll never stop.   Ever.  FOREVER.

Because its not just what You do.

Its WHO You are.

The I AM....of Yesterday, of our Todays, and for Forever.

Jesus Christ, You are the Same.