I am still readjusting to the Change!

Dear Friends, 

If you haven’t been keeping up (That is okay, my life is sort of like one of those shows you can pick up at any point. It’s not like watching a show where you have to know character “B’s” parents to know why character “Z” bought a tootsie roll at the 7/11) as I was saying; If you haven’t been keeping up with these blogs then I will fill you in with a word; “Transitional!” 

I realized last week how we are all in some form of transition. Event’s happen, people come and go, jobs come and go, purpose for our lives change sometimes by the hour, sometimes by the years. We are all Changing, transitioning, adjusting, and shifting. I don’t know what walks of life each person comes from, your shift may be transitioning from being a junior in high school to being a senior, It may be facing another year at a school that no longer holds the friends you used to hang out with. Transition may be getting married, or watching a child get married. Transition my be leaving the country or returning to a country. Transition for you may be a moving back in or out of your parents home. Transition may be a bit more grave such as facing a reformed future that includes radiation, chemotherapy, or some other treatment plan for illness. Transition may even be facing a reformed future without treatment because the one you loved is no longer in need because they have died. 

We all transition from the moment we open our eyes in the morning and begin to process information. We are changed by the influence of every outside stimulus we encounter. Most of us don’t like transitioning. Most of the time transitioning is our way of adjusting to a forced change in circumstances. A lot of the time we gloss it over with ideas like; “it just is what it is” “I can’t change it, so I just have to change” “It could be worse” “one day at a time” Sometimes however we are bold and willing to ask the more difficult questions and rebel against transitioning and we say things like; “I will change but I don’t have to like it” “Why do these things happen to me?” “What is the point of all this?” “How do I transition when I’m still stuck in shock?” 

Sometimes we even throw God into the mix and ask “WHY GOD!? WHY!?” This was something I faced a lot in hospital. What I realized is that in our “eternal why’s” what we are really seeking is control. Looking at the responses we see that transition is not just a way of adjusting, it is a way of regaining control. We always want to be in control of the transition that occurs in our lives. Here is what lead me to this conclusion:

Wednesday night I was spending time with my friends. One of them busted out her acoustic guitar and started playing hymns (you should see what we do on a Friday night!). In my heart was a restlessness that has always been present when I am with these friends. We are always transitioning and it is clear when we are together that it will never be for long before one of us has to go again. In the moments that we do share I often feel complete, whole, and peaceful, until I remember that these are only moments that will pass quite quickly. 

In our improvised concert we sang Hymn 849 (LSB) Praise The One Who Breaks the Darkness. In that song I was reminded that our whole lives are to be transitional. Not transitional as in something happens and we respond, but transitional in that something DID happen and therefor we are changed. Christ is the constant that we cling to in a world that throws so much at us to respond to. Christ is our game changer, our Healer, Comforter, King of Peace, and Chain breaker. When we ask “Why” of God like Job did, there isn’t anything wrong with that. What we need to realize is that the moments of transition are never so big that God aborts ship. He is right there with us. His transitions are far bigger than our own and He invites us to transition by being changed into a new Creation in HIM. Eyer writes in his book “Theology of the Cross” on how it is in our suffering that we understand to look for Christ instead of question Christ. If we didn’t recognize Christ in those moments of transition we missed the point. 

While is saddened me to reflect on the brevity of time I was to share with my friends I was reminded that just as our voices were joined as one in that wonderful hymn of reassurance, hope, and restoration, our voices would One Day be rejoined in songs of praise to The One Who Breaks the Darkness. We are liberated by the transitions that Christ offers. He gives us new for old, and frees us of the bondage of this worlds transitions. He offers the promise of fellowship with friends, a secure home in heaven, wholeness in our bodies, and a reunion with our loved ones. All the troubles this wold leave us lingering in and worried about will be wiped away for a new Glory, we wait for that day, for the GLORIOUS TRANSITION of one world to the next where we will all be made one, once and for all. 

1 Praise the One who break the darkness
With a liberating light;
Praise the One who frees the pris'ners
Turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the Gospel,
Healing ev'ry dread disease,
Calming storms, and feeding thousands
With the very Bread of peace.

2 Praise the One who blessed the children
With a strong, yet gentle word;
Praise the One who drove out demons
With the piercing two-edged sword.
Praise the one who brings cool water
To the desert's burning sand;
From this Well comes living water
Quenching thirst in ev'ry land.

3 Let us praise the Word incarnate,
Christ, who suffered in our place.
Jesus died and rose victorious
That we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness,
Seeing what our God has done;
Let us praise the true Redeemer,
Praise the One who makes us one.

ONE MORE THING: My blog allows me to see where people are reading from and how many people read this. I just want to say to everyone who reads this; You have NO IDEA how thankful I am for YOU! It literally brings tears to my eyes when I see that even one person has taken the time and interest to read my little theological reflections. Some of you I know, some of you I will only know when we meet face to face in heaven, but as you can probably tell from my writings; I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT DAY!!! Thank you so much for reading!!! I am humbled! -Katie Z