Shannon's Corner

  The word road can be a great descriptor and/or image to help express and embody what our transition experience is. A road can lead us to our destination but the road itself is not the destination but the journey we take to our destination. One of the most common questions asked by kids when in the car no matter the distance is ‘ Are we there yet? ’ Like kids, we can become inpatient with the journey and just want to be there already. But...the roads we take can be bumpy, windy, or heavy with traffic yet these difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. Like roads, transition is the journey toward our beautiful destination of transformation. Reflection with road: What thoughts, emotions, or memories come up? What details speak to you? What connection in your life do they make? Perhaps with a current, past, or future transition. Share in the comments which image describes your road of transition .

Words and images can serve as guiding markers as we navigate through a season of transition.   A threshold takes you from one place into another, a point of transition. The spaces that lie between who we were and who we are becoming. These periods can be unsettling, as they often represent leaving behind the familiar to venture into unknown territory. Each threshold brings with it an invitation: to leave behind what no longer serves us and to embrace what lies ahead.   Reflection with thresholds: ·        Look at each image. ·        Notice which images stand out to you. ·        What thoughts, emotions, or memories come up? ·        What details speak to you? ·        What connection in your life do they make? Perhaps with a current, past, or future transition.   Share in the comments which image stands out to you.  

  This is the fourth relational dynamic that can impact our relational health, often leading us to feel disconnected. In relationships—whether with others, with God, or even with ourselves—we all encounter challenges. Our instinct is usually to come up with solutions to address or manage these problems. Yet, we often don’t realize that the assumptions we hold and our reactions to the issue can shape these solutions. Sometimes, rather than helping, our solutions make things worse.   Think of a time when you had directions to reach a destination but ended up getting lost. Maybe you tried to solve the problem by checking the map yourself or asking someone nearby for help. Despite your efforts, you might have found yourself even more frustrated, confused, and disoriented as the directions (your attempted solution) didn’t actually lead you to your destination.   Attempted solutions can sometimes keep us from moving forward, making the situation worse by creating a cycle of dis...