If you have been following along, we have been talking about sowing seeds in the midst of life transitions and cultivating the soil where those seeds are planted. But there is another part of gardening that can be especially difficult during transition: Waiting for something to grow. You plant the seed. You tend the soil. You water it. And then…nothing seems to happen. At least, nothing you can see. Life transitions can feel much the same way. You may have made the decision, taken the next step, begun exploring new possibilities, or released something that once defined your life. You may be doing all the “right” things, yet you still don't have much evidence that anything is changing. You wonder: Am I making progress? Did I make the right decision? Why don't I feel different yet? When will I know what comes next? But what if there is more happening beneath the surface than you realize? Growth isn't always visible. When a seed is planted, there is a period when nothing app...
Have you ever walked along a path and noticed how different the ground can be? There may be hard, well-worn paths where nothing seems to grow. There may be rocky places where plants struggle to establish deep roots. There may be areas tangled with thorns and weeds. And then there are places where the soil is rich, ready, and full of life. As I think about the different soils Jesus describes in the Parable of the Sower, I am reminded that transition often reveals the soil we are carrying within us. Transition isn't simply about figuring out what comes next. It is also an invitation to notice what is happening within us as we move through what is changing around us. Sometimes We Find Ourselves on Hard Soil After a difficult season, it is easy for our hearts to become hardened. Maybe you have experienced disappointment after disappointment. Maybe something you hoped would happen didn't. Perhaps you've had to say goodbye to people, places, roles, dreams, or expectations. Over...