Bridging Transition

Image sourced from pixabay.com

Transition is an explosion of change and emotional upheaval. If you are going through a major life change (job switch, moving to a new community, etc.), you might find this bridge analogy a helpful one. We have. 

One side of the bridge is firmly planted on the soil of That Which is Familiar To You. For us, it was Ghana. We had daily routines, were comfortable with our roles, knew local prices, had a church, friends, and a place to belong. Here are words that have been used to describe this stage: 

• stable
• comfortable
• boring
• pleasant
• safe
• familiar

Stepping onto the first segment of the bridge begins the time of Unsettling. There are lots of goodbyes to say, belongings to sort, (in our case) an entire life to pack into totes, replacements to train. Hearts are filled with a strange mixture of sadness that comes with saying goodbye and the throbbing excitement of happy hellos to come. Goodbyes always include loss of some kind. In this stage, you begin to get a sense of what you are about to lose and what you will gain. Some descriptions from people who have been in this unsettling period are: 

• uncertainty
• excitement
• doubt 
• anxious
• busy
• exhausting
• tired of goodbyes
• sorting 

From there, you step into the center of the bridge, correctly labeled with a single word: CHAOS. The happiness of seeing family and the fun of eating cheeseburgers gets all tangled up with the uncertainty what is expected of you and the guilt of enjoying the good life while others are still working and suffering. Gains and losses, complete happiness and total sadness, it is all there. This is a time of: 

• overwhelm
• exhaustion
• frustration
• excitement
• guilt 
• fear
• stress
• dependence
• joy
• sadness
• don't fit in

The final stretch of the bridge is the Resettling stage. In this stage, you are becoming familiar with the new routines, house and vehicles are being acquired, and you learn the local price for peanut butter. You might be feeling:

• hope
• gratitude
• confidence
• relief

Experts say you have successfully crossed the bridge when you are settled in a house, job, and church. Routines are working. Home feels established. You have resettled.

Reader, perhaps you recognize yourself somewhere on this bridge. Transition is a process and can be a lengthy one, depending on the support you receive and the depths of your loss. Regardless of your pace or place on the bridge, take heart. Our God, Who never changes, is with you throughout your transition. 

And there is more good news: Bridges don't last forever.