Ash Wednesday: A Symbol of Life's Transitions

This week begins the season of Lent. In a world that often values certainty and definitive answers, Ash Wednesday serves as a powerful reminder of our mortality and the transitions we all face in life. It reminds us of the power of dwelling in the questions, of standing on the threshold between what was and what might be. The ashes represent both death and renewal and speak to our fundamental liminality as humans – beings who exist between dust and divinity, constantly in the process of becoming.

The 40 days ahead offer a deliberate sanctuary of reflection, spiritual discipline, and renewal. Accept the Lord’s invitation to connect with Him as He nurtures our faith and grows our relationship with Him deeper. In this threshold time, allow this to be an invitation to experience the gospel.

Every significant life change involves both an ending and a beginning. The loss of the old creates space for new growth, much as the Lenten season of sacrifice leads to the renewal of Easter. Whether leaving home, changing careers, or ending relationships, these transitions require acknowledging what must be released before embracing what lies ahead. It calls us to let go of what no longer serves us so that something new can take root. The fundamental questions of this season echo in this threshold space: how do you willingly give yourself over to death and how do you receive life?

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October Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...

You Are Not A Role

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Reactivity

Transition is like putting a complex and challenging puzzle together. Some of the pieces seem like and even look like they fit in a particular place, so you continue until you get stuck. You become frustrated and annoyed because you have spent all this time and energy into putting this section of the puzzle together and now you must find the piece that is in the wrong place. Reactivity becomes one more piece of complexity that we face in transition. It is how we manage our reactivity to know whether we are connecting or disconnecting in our relationships. Let’s discover what is reactivity. The working definition from Meriam Webster Dictionary is done in immediate response to something especially without thinking or planning. Reactivity is another core relational dynamic that can disconnect us with ourselves, with others, and with God, our Immanuel. It can become a numbing agent that blocks our connection and awareness to God’s presence within us and in our...

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