Transition

Life is transition. A never-ending cycle of one transition after another.

 

It is interesting to me that the word transition is used in the birth process. When you are expecting a baby, there is much anticipation regarding the moment you will be in labor. Mothers often think they are in labor long before they are. The body prepares for labor early in pregnancy with involuntary uterine exercises called Braxton Hicks contractions. As a mother approaches her time to give birth these contractions become stronger and stronger. As a birth doula, childbirth educator and apprentice midwife, I had the honor of teaching many women and their support person what to look for, how to determine when contractions were the type that put you into active labor. These contractions were usually marked by 3 outward signs. The length between contractions, the length of the contraction and the strength. Are they getting longer? Are they getting closer together? Are they becoming more intense? Ultimately there is a point when active labor “transitions” into the stage of labor where a woman will release or push her baby into the world. Transition is hard, it’s the most intense part of labor. Transition can last a short time or a long time depending on mother, baby, and all kinds of other factors.

 

I don’t love the word pain, in association with the birth process. Pain makes us feel afraid. Pain makes us unwilling participants. Pain… is suffering. The truth is, transition is painful, but we can trust our bodies to take care of us, we can go with the flow, we can pray, we can cry, we can look into the eyes of those who we trust to tell us that it is worth it. That there will be a reward if we endure. In fact, if we are surrounded by the right people, in the right environment and we are not afraid, transition typically takes less time. If we have someone to hold our hand, to tell us we are doing a good job, someone to give us sips of liquid to give us strength, if we treasure every moment of rest and face each wave of intensity while surrendering ourselves to the process, TRANSITION goes smoothly and we birth our babies into this world, they are placed upon our chests to admire and hold close to our hearts. They take their first breath, we listen to their little voices, we bask in the holy moment it is. A new life.

 

Born from a seed planted in passion, grown in the dark and unknown to the world, eventually the world sees new life in our wombs and when the weight of new life becomes too heavy to carry, when the time is right, we welcome transition knowing new life is on the other side, a dream fulfilled. A longing met. A secret unwrapped for the world to finally see.

 

Transition Again

 

Back to the statement above:

“Life is transition. A never-ending cycle of one transition after another.”

 

We are in a season of transition, yet again.  Our children are grown, we are and have been discontent with our life the way it currently is. We know there is more. We know, God asks more. And so, we have been praying. We have been asking the Lord if tre is anything different, he is asking of us in days and years to come. We have ideas by the dozens and are laying those down to ask the question. What do you want Lord?

 

The past couple of years, I’ve been afraid of the pain of transition, while pregnant with anticipation, with dreams, with calling and longing, with a desire to hope for more but fear to do so, there is much to be afraid of. It seems to be that way when we are about to birth something new. Something new, something yet unseen.

 

I have nothing to fear, the Holy Spirit is with me, with us, providing direction, wisdom, strength, refreshing and comfort. I am releasing my hopes and expectations and embracing each wave of intense emotion, setbacks, and uncertainties for the hope that lies at the end of the next phase of our journey, the active birthing of a new life. I praise God for friends who pray, support, and encourage when you need an extra push. I praise God for what is hidden but soon all shall see.

And even now in transition, my hope is nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I know who holds tomorrow and I don’t want it to be me. And so, I release it into the hands of the one who knows better than me.

 

Thank you, Lord.

You are present in the refining fire. You are present in the incubation process. You are present, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I will trust in your leading. I will bask in your Peace. I will wait on you.

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