I don’t really know what causes this kind of transition line in the water. I guess it’s probably something to do with the currents and tidal changes. I saw this particular line from a ferry, crossing from Vancouver BC to Sidney BC. As I looked at it, I kept thinking about transitions in life. Our life transitions are a lot like this line. There’s something going on below the surface that is not visible to a bystander; sometimes not even visible to the individual experiencing the transition. Waves of change break in some places; others are smoother. And it’s not a straight line! Just as in this picture, there are curves and blips. The waves of change may be events occurring in our lives, in our community. They may be the call of God to a new way of life.
One of the things that fascinates me about this photo is the change in color, which is what makes the difference so visible. I wish there was something that made my own transitions so visible! Or the transitions of those I love. Or are they visible? Am I choosing not to see the change happening right before my eyes? Journaling and meditation help me to be awake to the changes that are happening within and around me, to the call of God in my life.
At other times in my life, change has felt like I’m starting over a tall waterfall, threatening my very existence. The change reflected in this current doesn’t seem so dangerous. And yet, it is as demanding of my attention.
Are you awake to what is happening within and around you? Are there currents that you need to be aware of? I imagine that if you were steering a boat across this transition point in the water, you’d need to be prepared to respond to the currents. Similarly, in our lives, we need to be prepared—or at the very least, paying attention. Changes can happen that we cannot expect, but we can have spiritual tools in place that help us to respond. What tools do you have in your tool box to assist you in responding to change?
O God, help me to see the gentle waves of change in my life and to ask for Your guidance in responding in a way which meets Your call for my life. Amen.
