This week, I am celebrating five years in the little writing cottage I now call home. Life is full of transitions that can be challenging to navigate. These ideas that kept me grounded during my move are still guiding principles today. Blessings to you in any transitions you may be navigating. Enjoy this repost!
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It’s moving day, my first solo move in thirty years, and emotions flow – wave upon wave – but not the ones you’d expect. Sadness and sorrow over a radically changed life have already flowed long and thorough during two years of constant flitting from place to place. Friends and family have opened welcoming rooms and numerous housesitting opportunities. These have almost miraculously appeared. Time and again, the next one opens exactly as the previous one wraps up. The timing is uncanny, and I have felt God’s provision and tender care in all of this. I am so grateful. But I have been perching and flitting long enough; it’s time for nesting into this new life of mine.
And space for this nesting has also been provided. My new space is very like I hoped it would be, complete with wood floors and a garage to keep my windshield ice-free for dark winter drives to work. There’s a view of the park, walking spaces, and a recently remodeled kitchen. All of this is more than I thought possible in my price range. It took some digging; we saw a lot of junky places before this one appeared. For the umpteenth time over the past few years, I feel God’s creative provision and trust God’s loving care as I embark on yet another new experience. Today brings wonder, apprehension, enthusiasm, uncertainty, lots of relief, and joy for what’s ahead. Again, wave after wave…
Choosing Presence and Awareness
I choose to focus on awareness: I’m driving to my closing, signing the papers, and hiring a moving company. Walking up the sidewalk, gazing at the windows – these are MY windows – sliding the key into the lock, and opening the door for the first time, I’m in. I stand beside the empty kitchen and gaze around the room. This is my space and I will live here. I’m ready… excited… nervous.
Throughout the process, I wish to absorb serenity, allowing “go with the flow” to rise to the surface. Enough each day to get one day’s activity done and to let the rest go… to stop pushing to do more than I’m capable of (a common trait, but not a helpful one).
Prayer for Today
On moving day, I pray for grace… presence… flexibility…and an overall easygoing spirit. I pray to rest when I need it. I pray for fun, joy, and active discernment. Mostly, I need the willing ability to let items go which I no longer need. These objects represent a life that’s drawn to a close, and yet their familiarity brings me comfort. Nevertheless, this space is far smaller than the previous one, and it’s time to let things go. So, I pray for the desire to give what I no longer need. This will bless me and others.
I ask My Heavenly Father: “Be my center of gravity today. Come in and wrestle back that which is too much for me. Protect me from losing my presence of mind, awareness, joy, or temper. May I do only what is needed and leave the rest for another day.”
Setting My Intentions
Here’s the deal: I tend to take on more than I can handle, so on this transition day, I set my values early:
#1: LET IT GO– this day has the potential to be overwhelming. Today I choose to let it flow. I will let go of the rope of control and see what happens.
#2: LESS IS MORE – if you don’t think you need it, most likely you don’t. You don’t like clutter, so let it go!
#3: PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION – I will give myself the gift of time to figure it all out. Enough for the day is the work done today.
#4: GIVE & RECEIVE trumps my natural inclination to “TAKE & HOLD”: I choose an open-handed attitude where I will trust God to provide what I need. When I’m in this mindset, I can practice the flow of giving and receiving with an open heart. When I lose sight of a loving God who provides what I need, I begin to grasp things and hang on for dear life. What if I will need this one day and find I no longer have it???? I’m beginning to realize this is the voice of fear talking. For me, the mindset of TAKE & HOLD is constrictive and fear-producing. I do not wish to get stuck in that place today. Which leads to number five…
#5: TAKE WHAT YOU NEED AND LEAVE THE REST – literally and figuratively. May I do only the essential and leave the rest for another day. There is enough time and energy for everything. It comes in small pockets of “one day at a time”.
God, bless our transition times. Amen
