Tag: Change

As if moving your whole life across the country isn’t challenging enough…let’s add a Global Pandemic on top of that!

Little did I know at the beginning of 2020, when we packed up our van and truck, venturing halfway across the country, we would be facing, like the rest of the world, a full blown pandemic. Worn down from the dry, lackluster landscape, and heat of Central Texas I was more than ready for new scenery and really looking forward to exploring the new area. 

*Side note: (Washington is one of the most beautiful states I’ve lived in – coming from a girl who grew up minutes from the California coastline and enjoyed a few years in the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains.) Everything is so green and lush here. Tree lines silhouette the landscape for miles, rivers and lakes abound at every turn, gentle breezes blow and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean take your breath away. Not to mention the local mom and pops coffee joints & coffee stands all along the way. 

Honestly, this couldn’t be a better place to live. I’ve come to discover locals like the stigma this area gets because it keeps people from moving here. (Well played Washingtonians – well played!) Now don’t get me wrong, it may rain quite a bit during the winter/spring seasons, however, not nearly as much as people have made it out to be. Yet, what comes from the rain is absolutely stunning.

Let’s get back to transitioning during a Pandemic. Usually when I move to a new place I drive around quite a bit to familiarize myself with the area. The night we moved into our new house it had just snowed and we woke up to a layer of fresh powder. When I went downstairs to let my little dog Sadie out I slipped on the back porch step and twisted my ankle. So day 2 into our transition I found myself lying on the sofa with a swollen, sprained ankle, in the midst of boxes everywhere. Not how I’d expected this “Fresh Start” to begin. 

But I didn’t let that bother me. I figured this was God’s way of letting me get more rest from the exhausting move and also gave me an excuse to subscribe to the Hallmark Channel while I “rested.” (BTW, to be clear, I don’t believe God did this to me….God isn’t mean, its just part of living in the real world and dumb things happen to everyone). 

Normally, there’s not a whole lot that can keep me down, I’m a pretty resilient person (according to my counselor), … until….wait for it….a G-L-O-B-A-L Pandemic hits and everything shuts down! Ugh! Really? NOT how I wanted to start 2020. After all I put a “The Best is Yet to Come” graphic on my Facebook banner. Doesn’t that mean anything?

In the process of my season of “forced” rest I’ve been able to quiet my heart enough to allow the Lord to teach me a few things. I wish I could say I’ve mastered these lessons but here’s a little bit of what I’ve gathered as a result of making major life transitions during this crazy season:

1. God is in control, I am not and I can still trust Him. None of this took God by surprise. Even when our world gets turned upside down the constants in life are God’s unchanging goodness, grace and love. I can count on Him to be a steady refuge for me in any time of trouble. He is my anchor and when things are out of control – He is not. He remains faithful when I am faithless (which is more times than I’d like to admit) and He does not change no matter the circumstances. Therefore He IS trustworthy and I can put my life in His hands, knowing He works all things together for my good…even a global pandemic.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the 
Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, 
my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him." 
Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT)

2.  I need to Use the “F” Word --> “Flexibility." No matter how much I plan and prepare sometimes things won't go the way I anticipate. I have to be prepared for the unexpected and be willing to adapt. When I was working on my music degree each semester I had to perform a piano recital.  One piece of advice my piano instructor gave me was to anticipate mistakes, which seemed counterintuitive at the time. How do you prepare for mistakes? Don’t they just happen? I remember him telling me, it’s ok to mess up, the key (no pun intended) is to find your trouble spots and figure out what you need to do to quickly recover from them - You have to adapt. That was such great advice for me. Inevitably there was always a spot or two that would trip me up during recitals because my nerves were so shot. I do not like performing (and still don't) and being centerstage with the spotlight solely on me was one of my least favorite things about recitals, all eyes on me and no where to hide - completely exposed. Every could see and hear everyone of my flaws and imperfections and on top of that I was being judged and critiqued by my professors. Let’s just say I’m extremely grateful that season is over! 

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." 
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

3. Purpose to look for the good. There is beauty in every season if I look for it. I firmly believe you will find what you’re looking for. If you look for the good in everything you’re sure to find it. Conversely, if you look for the bad, you will also find plenty of it too, probably more so too because often bitter hearts are on the lookout for another reason to complain about something. Being intentional about looking for the good takes effort but the payoff is worth it. Would you rather go through life seeing what’s wrong with everything and everyone or what’s right?

"Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who
makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."
Philippians 4:8 (MSG)

4. Gratitude is a choice. Understandably, it’s  easy to get upset when things don’t go as planned. Irritation and frustration are natural responses to disappointment. However, If I choose to make my disappointments a permanent pit stop I’m only poisoning my own attitude. Brene’ Brown, author and shame research professor at The University of Houston, often says those who have the capacity to lean fully into joy have one common denominator: They practice gratitude. A practice that has helped me to cultivate a thankful heart is maintaining a gratitude journal. This came about during quarantine when it was often a challenge to find things to be thankful for. Yet, it was surprising to see how much I could be thankful for when I took the time to sit down and start transcribing it.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights 
in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” 
Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)

5. This too shall pass. Every season is temporary and won’t last forever, even though it may feel eternal at times. That’s what a season is, a temporary period of time. If I can keep perspective on what really matters most I’ll be less likely to miss out on what’s right in front of me so I won’t be so preoccupied with the enormity of the situation. Remembering this is not how things are going to be for forever frees me up to keep my priorities straight and helps me breath easier, freeing me of anxiety. I can rest assured no matter how long or unknown this season is IT WILL PASS! Praise the Lord!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." 
 Ecclessiastes 3:1 (ESV)

6. Believe the Best is Yet to Come. Easier said than done. Right?! Trust me, I’m very much a realist and am prone to being more pragmatic than idealistic, so this is a challenge for me. Remember I anticipate mistakes. However, knowing that, I also know I can anticipate how to respond to them. Fleshing it out is the hard part, admittedly not something I’ve mastered yet. At the end of the day I would rather say I believed and was disappointed than kept my heart closed to the goodness of God and trusted in His greater purposes. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. 
They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

Even though this year looks a lot different than I pictured it would I’m so grateful I could go through it with the people I love most and we were all together. I’m grateful for all I’ve learned. I’m grateful for the shelter He’s provided for me. I’m grateful for His provision, His promises, His presence and His peace that’s kept me from unraveling altogether. I’m grateful for the rest and a beautiful place to live. I’m grateful He took my disappointments and turned them into blessings.

The glass IS half full friends. 2020 has been a hot mess for sure but we have so much to be grateful for and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do next. I’m grateful this too shall, inevitably pass at some point! (The good news is 2020 is almost over! Hallelujah!!! ). I believe God is moving in a powerful way and He has great things in store for everyone who puts Him first. As we look to the Lord, as we remember He is still in Control, trusting this season won’t last forever, choosing gratitude and a flexible attitude, may we open our eyes to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and continue to believe the Best is YET to come!

"Yet, I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness 
while I am here in the land of the living." 
Psalm 27:13 (NLT)