Tip of My Iceberg

‘Tis the season for graduations and moving forward in our personal journeys.

For this COVID season which has made time crawl by with sloth-like slowness, coming to this occasion to honor grads of all kinds is a pleasant pause in a cultural norm of unease. Celebrations are reminders that the seasons pass even when we feel stuck.

We’ve had the privilege of watching two ends of the spectrum graduate, from Ryken who moved from kindergarten to Sloane who graduated from preschool, and Ethan who has finished high school and will be moving on to college. Milestones of varying challenge but remembrances nonetheless.

Good endings and fresh beginnings. It’s what we long for, to finish well and move with anticipation to our next course of action. These are reminders of the significance of time, that our lives have meaning and should be approached with intention and hope.

That hasn’t been easy in these past fifteen months. Life as we knew it came to a screeching halt, and many have struggled to readjust to new situations and new norms. Some pivot better than others, but it doesn’t mean any of us are excused from the need to change.

We need people celebrating us even when we struggle with new and different. We all need those “Way to go” reminders that others see our efforts and value them. Even small movements forward aren’t in vain.

Seeing Ethan and Sloane, and earlier, Ryken, move into new seasons of life is exciting. They’re all being newly challenged with dreams they want to see fulfilled. I’m thrilled that they’ve kept moving forward this past year, even though it wasn’t easy or what they would have preferred.

There’s something inspiring about a new season, whether it’s school, a new job, new neighborhood, new supervisor. Change provides us with the chance to assess what we’ve been and believe what we can be. To appraise our efforts and recreate our desires and purposes in light of what we’ve learned.

Which is never easy.

I don’t mind change; I’ve learned to adapt well in new circumstances. But this past year has pushed me to limits I didn’t want to go to. I’ve whined more than I wanted, complained more than I should, and have blame-shifted this whole mess of life to one group or another.

Life happens. Seasons change. I need to be willing to deal with life adjustments and my own adjustments.

Every day is a new opportunity to do that.

Life is full of loss and grief, but also joy and wonder. There are seasons for everything. There is a time for every purpose under heaven.

The world is messy, as are we. Our messes collide with others and conflict ensues. It has and will happen again and again.

We can’t change these seasons. We can change the way we deal with them.

Jesus made an incredible offer to anyone who would listen. Give all your worries and cares to Him because He cares for you.

Is that a magic saying? No. Is it a formula for happiness? No.

It’s knowing there is Someone who is with you in every season, every venture, every problem you could ever have.

That’s worth celebrating.