Transitions

We - all of us - are making a change.  Change happens all the time.  Sometimes we welcome it, sometimes it is undesired.  Sometimes it is obvious, sometimes we hardly notice.  Sometimes it is intentional; sometimes it “just happens.”  Seasons of change may be known by another word:  transitions.

In the sporting world, we are transitioning from the woeful way of the Leafs to the (so far) winning ways of the Jays.  Seasonally, the short, cloudy, cold days of winter are slowly giving way to the brighter, (soon to be) warmer days of spring and summer.  Instead of parkas we think about parks - those outdoor spaces where we can soak in vitamin D, pitch a tent, swat mosquitoes, and complain about the humidity (some things never change). 

We tend to think of life as a repetitive cycle.  Every day is sort of like the day before.  Each week is sort of like the week before.  Each year is sort of like the year before . . . rinse, repeat.  Then, one day, we are hit by the fact that something is different.  It demands change, a transition into something new.  

My favourite philosopher, Solomon, understood how we can easily perceive life to be cyclical with transitional moments interjected to keep us confused.  “But,” he said, “even this has purpose.”  He begins his musings in Ecclesiastes by noting that the sun rises and sets day after day without fault, that the waters run into the oceans, evaporate, fall as rain, and then does it again and again.  Based on these experiences, people fall into “cycle-itis:”  the belief that life is the same-old, same-old, wearisome routine.  Even the occasional hiccup in the cycle itself becomes part of the cycle. We curate coping skills for the hiccups and just carry on.

Because of the faithfulness of God, we have confidence that the sun will rise and set each day.  We also know there is something bigger happening.  There is an order, a process in play.  There is a progression and structure to life.  Within the expected, the unexpected, the transitions of life happen so we can sharpen our knowledge of who God is.  We transition into a clearer understanding of our engagement with Him and His created order.  When the cycle is broken, we have a portal of learning into God’s faithfulness not seen by the regularity of life.  His faithfulness is often best observed in the irregularities, the transitions, and changes.

At the core of our broken human nature is the desire to “be like God.”  That is the temptation that brought down Adam and Eve.  Despite our best efforts, we cannot know what God knows.  Even though everything always seems to roll along, the hiccups remind us we need to be conscious that we are always dependent on God (Eccl. 5-6).  

Control is elusive.  Presuming meaning and purpose is confusing.  Transitions remind us that our relationship with God is built on trust.  Since He is the Creator, we are assured that these moments have purpose and value even though it is often beyond our perception and understanding.

Being at the bottom of the well didn’t make sense to Joseph.  Getting thrown into the lions’ den didn’t make sense to Daniel.  Being the parents of Jesus didn’t make sense to Joseph and Mary.  Jesus’ death on a cross didn’t make sense to the disciples.  For all of these - and many others - the cycle of life “ought” to have been different.  The cycle was interrupted with divine purpose.  In fact, we could go so far as to say, “with divine favour.”  It most certainly didn’t seem like that at the time, I’m sure.  These transitional moments are now recognized as being amongst the most important moments in human history.  

Life does not carry on in “rinse and repeat” mode.  God is doing something intentional and purposeful.  Transitions are opportunities for and markers of the transformational work of God in each of our lives.  Set in the context of God’s faithfulness, transition moments become tools used by the Spirit of God to mature us into the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).  Transitional moments focus our perspective and priorities, aligning them with those of the Kingdom of God.

When the cycle has a hiccup - and even when life is rolling along in some semblance of “normal” - keep looking upward, keep pushing forward.  God has started something in each of us and is at work to complete that good thing to the praise of Jesus Christ.

Change is happening.