Women in Transition

Blog Author: Karen Kendig

Sometimes our biggest nightmare turns out to be our biggest gift. And it all comes down to our attitude. Life will throw us curve balls and disappointments, even heartbreak. But ultimately we can choose if we're going to be bitter or better for the experience. Kathryn Orford

The definition of transitions is: the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. And as human beings, we go through this process over and over again throughout our lifetimes. That’s because life IS change, as seen in any photo album. We notice changes in our hair, our size and shape, our likes and dislikes, styles in clothing, choice of partners, growing families, and those we loved glaringly missing from the photos. Changes can be developmental, related to relationships, work, birth and death, location and more. Some changes are of our own volition, others are forced upon us. "Sometimes life takes you on a journey you never thought you wanted." (Quote from the app Tide Lite)

No matter the impetus—change happens. Like the sun rising and setting each day, the four seasons, the waxing and waning of the moon, high and low tides—change is an integral part of the cosmic plan. When my son died at the age of nineteen, change was brutally force upon me. In the early months following his death, I chose not to participate in the dynamic process. I chose to stay curled up in a ball and sleep, with the intent to never get out of bed again. However, the living were all around me. The sun continued to rise. Younger children had to get to school. And the world had not missed a beat since the passing of my son.

Several weeks after I finally got out of bed, got dressed, and resumed daily life as a mindless machine, I slowly began to participate by grieving for the old life and accepting, building, and finally living a new one. Had I stayed in bed, I would be bitter, lonely, unhealthy, probably divorced, with enough angry tears dammed up inside me to provide hydro-powered electricity for the city of New York on New Year’s Eve. Because the problem with not accepting and willingly participating in the transition process is that change happens with or without your input and consent.

So let me introduce you to a new way of looking at the transition process, a way that provides the only real choice you have in life and that’s how you will respond to the changes that befall, bewilder, or bedazzle you. This is not a spectator sport. While not necessarily a team sport, the players are active participants in navigating the curve balls thrown at them. They are adventurers who thrive off the excitement of exploring the unknown and inventurers who do not cower over the plate when the ball coming at them requires inner exploration of the heart and mind. The rules of the game require the participant to be open and willing to re-invent herself despite bruises, pain, and defeat.

Those who courageously and faithfully participate in this confusing game of life are called Re-invent-urers. Join us as we learn together about how to be proactive and engaged in the act of re-inventing our lives.

Daily Meditation

Use this meditation this week to help you open yourself to the changes around and within you.

Holy Spirit, grant me the courage to face the changes in my life so they might lead me to the best possible divine outcome.