New Perspectives

To Comment on this article Click Here

Reverend Keith Reynolds

Recent weather reminds me that summer is bending its way toward fall.  Back to school shopping raises the flag that school will soon be in session.  The summer swell of Saugeen Shores has thinned out a bit.  We are in a time of transition.

It is an in between time for many of us.  Between what was and what will be.  From what has been familiar to the unknown.  There is something hopeful in this time of year; relishing the gift of summer along Lake Huron while at the same anticipating the wonders of fall.  Treasuring the friendships that reconnected during the summer help ground us in the goodness of life.  Remembering freer days of summer may give a lift to our spirit.  Looking ahead can give us a sense of purpose and direction, focusing on the tasks in front of us.

Ask any woman who has given birth about transition and she will probably tell you it was the most painful part.  I am told it is the part when everything becomes far more intense, focused and laboured.  More is required.  Digging deeper becomes necessary.  

Transition times are not always easy.  Patience presents itself as an opportunity to choose or refuse.  Stress usually increases.  Perspectives can grow more rigid in effort to maintain what is known.  The way things have been is the way they should always be.  Tradition informs transitions but should never control them.

What if our children have changed this year and do not go to school the same way they did last year?  What if the health of the person I love has altered them, so what was known can no longer continue?  What if approaching retirement has me more nervous than excited?  

Transitions also present an opportunity to choose life.  Over and over again we are offered ways to choose what is life giving or life draining.  Choosing life marks an essential step of any transition.  

How are you and I choosing life these days?

^{for world news, books, sports, movies ...}

Tuesday, August 30, 2011