New
Beginnings
There’s an excited energy that flows through us when we’re
about to embark on a new adventure in life. Whether we’re
moving into a new house, starting a new job, returning to school,
trading in the single life for marriage, or buying a new wardrobe,
we’re filled with hope and anticipation at what lies ahead.
We’re eager to step away from what was
in order to claim what will be.
But
when we move too quickly to a new beginning we can find our souls
feel uneven and choppy. It’s as if we’re trying to
be in two places at once—we’re animated about what
is new, but we’re not fully over what is old. In order for
a new beginning to be all that it can be, we need to take the
time that is necessary to complete our endings.
In so many sacred stories where people are changing, there is
a period of waiting—a space that spans the old and the new.
A space that makes it possible to fully let go of the past in
order to be single-mindedly ready for the future.
Consider
the Israelites, for example, who wandered in a wasteland for forty
years before beginning their new life in the Promised Land. Or
Jesus, who spent 40 days in the wilderness before taking up his
ministry. These periods of waiting can seem annoying or even onerous
and difficult, but they are actually a gift that will help prepare
us to move into a new beginning with fullness and joy.
Tip to try: When a new opportunity beckons you
and your soul is filled with urgency and excitement, take time
to mentally appreciate your current situation by making a list
of the graces and blessings you are experiencing now. Then take
some time to give thanks for what this time and space in life
has done for you.
