The Color of New Beginnings

“For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning."

(T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding)

The last year and a half has been an exploration of life's alleys and avenues, most of which were paths entirely unplanned from my perspective. After leaving parish work I had no distinct destination in mind, outside of resting and getting my feet back under me. It is not easy to retool from parish work into the general work force; while the wisdom and skills that fermented through church work are applicable in numerous settings, a church work resume is challenging to sell to non-religious employers. 

Nonetheless, I have been attentive to opportunities as they have arisen, and this week witnesses yet another twist in the path. My friend Mary drew my attention to a job posting a few weeks back. Though I dismissed it at first I kept coming back to the ad, pondering possibilities. So, I applied, was interviewed, and subsequently offered the position of grief and bereavement coordinator for the Hospice Society of Camrose and District. 

“You raze the old to raise the new.” 

(Justina Chen, North of Beautiful)

Though they can be painful, and often unsettling, life's changes are always an intricate dance of grief and hope. Letting go of previous experiences draws us onto that old familiar road of sorrow - grieving what was, even as we may be fearful of, or longing for the unknown path ahead. And then comes a doorway along the path; unforeseen ventures beckon, ripe with potential. Pausing in the glen of yesterday's grief too long will mean that today's opportunity will pass us by. There is a time for grief, and grieve we must; even more so there is a time for new life, new beginnings.

“But there's a beginning in an end, you know?

It's true that you can't reclaim what you had,

but you can lock it up behind you.

Start fresh.” 

(Alexandra Bracken, The Darkest Minds)

Our yesterday's are the soil from which grows the fruit that is today's wisdom. If we look back too long as we move ahead we will smack into the doorpost that is the next opportunity. It does take some courage to plant our feet on the path, to sojourn to places unknown. Is that not, however, a delicious and flavourful part of life - new beginnings, life from the ashes of the old?

Perhaps you are contemplating a new start? Take time to bid farewell to what was; grieve what has been razed, and then orient your toes in the direction of the star that draws you. You are a beautiful soul, and a new beginning might just be waiting to receive your gifts and and the Love that is you.

I leave the last word to author, Cynthia Occelli:

“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression,

it must come completely undone.

The shell cracks,

its insides come out

and everything changes.

To someone who doesn't understand growth,

it would look like complete destruction.”

(Cynthia Occelli)

The color of new beginnings...

deep sighs, deep breaths.

Wake

up

see

what

is 

before

you

Pause

Breathe

Listen

To Ponder Further:

- From the Bible: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29.11)

- From Judaism: "Repentance makes man a new creature; hitherto dead through sin, he is fashioned afresh." (Midrash, Psalms 18)

- From Buddhism: "Although his parents were unwilling and tears poured down their cheeks, the recluse Gotama, having cut off hair and beard and donned saffron robes, went forth from home into homelessness." (Digha Nikaya i.115)