Dear One’s of St. C’s, 

I love talking about transition, mainly because I do not think it is talked about enough in our culture.  Transition is inevitable, it cannot be escaped.  So I find a lot of value in talking about transition and how impacts us as humans. 

People often talk about the challenges of transition, but it is almost always a fruitful time as well.  I find how William Bridges talks about transition to be really helpful.  In his book, Transitions, he talks about transitions as those times in your life where you know the old way is no longer working or no longer possible, but you have not figured out what the new way is or the new way has not begun yet.  You can feel like you are falling in thin air, not sure how far you have to go before you land and not sure how soft or hard the landing is going to be.  This time can be scary and it is almost always uncomfortable.  Bridges talks about how people often want to go back to the old thing or rush forward to the new thing, skipping over this in-between time.  Bridges encourages people to take a breath and pause, because while its is rarely comfortable, it can be a time full of growth and opportunity.  

During times of transitions we have the ability to learn so much about who we are, what we want, and what we don’t want. The unknowing opens up a whole new world to us.  It allows the Holy Spirit to move us and guide us in ways that are not always possible during times of stability, during times of knowing.  

When I travel to a new city I love to wander with no plan and see what I might come across.  The city opens up in a way that it never could by following the instructions to a set destination.  Sometimes this leads to bad food and getting lost, but sometimes it leads to small gems, kind people, and beautiful views.  No matter what, it always opens me up to a new world filled with endless possibilities.

So why am I talking about transition this week?  Some of you are aware that Alissa is in Maryland right now being interviewed for the next Bishop of Maryland.  We at St. Columba’s are in transition.  Regardless, of whether or not Alissa gets elected as Bishop of Maryland we are in a time of transition right now, we as a community sit in the in-between, unsure of what this next month will bring.  We will find out on March 25th if Alissa is elected or not. 

 In the mean time it is almost impossible not to think about who will we be at St. Columba’s if Alissa goes?  Although, it might feel scary to ask, I also fully believe it is a fruitful question.  Instead of jumping backwards, or leaping forward this month, let’s sit in this in-between time and let it open a new world up to us. It doesn’t need to be an anxious time, but instead an open time.  Like Jesus said last week in our Gospel passage, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  This is a time to let the Holy Spirit breath, to let it go where it chooses.  It can be a time of wondering and curiosity.  Who is this faith community?  What do you love about this place?  In what areas do we want to refine?  What does this place tell you about who God is?  About who you are?  How does Jesus and the Holy Spirit show up here?  I wonder what new things we can learn about who St. Columba’s is as we sit in the not knowing.  I hope you will join me in this wondering.

with care, 

Meghan