The Challenge of Transitions

In the morning and in the evening, there is a nip in the air that, coupled with the splash of color that has begun to show itself, signals the change of season. It has always been my favorite season. I remember as a child kicking the fallen brittle leaves as I walked home from school, with the scent of burning wood in fireplaces filling the air. Today, I think I would name the mix of sensory perceptions “home and hearth time.” It conveys a sense of warmth and induces an inclination to reflection. Passage of years has added the dimension of time passing quickly, too quickly, and questions about what is important that I don’t want to neglect and fail to do. The transition from one season to another, especially now that they seem to pass very quickly, is something of a wake-up call for me. And so, this fall I ask myself some questions in the hope that I don’t waste the time and opportunity to live life, and especially my faith life, fully.
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I wonder…

• Am I content with the growth I have experienced in my faith?
• Am I satisfied with my relationship with God? What’s missing?
• Have I let the various concerns in our world and society touch my heart and move my feet to action?
• Do I acknowledge my dependence on God?
• When was the last time I took an active step in response to a social justice concern?  
• Have I forgiven those who have hurt me?
• Have I asked for forgiveness from those I have hurt?
• In what way(s) have I seriously considered my responsibility to reach out to those no longer affiliated with our community?

The questions could go on and on. There are a lot of transitions in life, but ultimately, there is a finite number, and so it is important to ask ourselves: What is this transition calling me to do, to be, or to become? Before long this autumn will transition into the winter of 2016, and we may find ourselves asking what that shift will ask of us. We will never again have the opportunity of this unique moment to assess how God is challenging us to live the life of grace that has been given us. It is an opportunity to flourish under the wing of God’s goodness. Just as I don’t want to miss the nip in the air, the crunch of brittle leaves, the colorful palette, and the scent of burning wood, I also do not want to miss God’s invitation to move closer to God as I respond to the people, circumstances, and challenges God lays before me.

~Sr. Kathleen
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Take your next step: Consider in your prayer: Am I willing to create space in my heart for the people God has put in my life, for those who are in need and for those who differ from me?

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