Transitions are part of our lives. For some of us changes come every so often. For others they seem to be the only thing that is stable in our lives. Wherever you fall in this continuum, transitions and the changes they bring are part of all our lives. Some may be well thought out and planned for, while others may take us totally by surprise and turn our worlds upside down and inside out.

Transition, according to Mr. Webster, means a passage or movement from one state, condition or place to another. Inferred in this definition is there is energy expended and some sort of growth when change takes place. All of us have experienced transitions in our lives. Those of us who have served in the military, or have jobs that move us around from place to place, understand the changes and energy used to move from place to place. We have all transitioned from one developmental stage to another - from infancy to toddler to childhood to adolescence - and hopefully to adulthood. With these changes our world views modified and changed. We look at our abilities and gifts in new ways with each change and transition.

As you know I am in the process of transitioning into my new role here at Pohick. In the midst of that process as I get to know you, listen to your stories, and you get to know me, I have noticed something - Pohick while focusing on "proclaiming by word and example the Good News of Christ Jesus (BCP)" is in the midst of transition. Something exciting is going to happen. It will mean change. Pipes carrying water under Highway One are coming to Pohick Church. I have the sense that you have waited for this and now the water is coming. Initially we will be thankful for the change in the taste of the tap water. Then the hard work of living into the next phase of Pohick's Strategic Plan will begin. The coming of water lines means change and transition.

As I said earlier, we all go through transitions. Now this branch of the Body of Christ is going to go through a transition together. In this transition several things won't change. Our belief in God's love for us and that God is present in all the transitions of our lives.

In thumbing through a new book, a gift from a dear friend, I found this prayer. The author relates that the prayer was inspired by "many a search committee." We are always in different states of transitions in our lives with graduations, weddings, school in session, vacations, new jobs starting and old ones ending, just to name a few. It is appropriate to center us with God's presence in all these changes with prayer. So I offer you this simple prayer for your consideration and use as you go through the transitions in your life.

A Prayer for Transition

Ever-present God,
You call us on a journey to a place we do not know,
We are not where we started,
We have not reached our destination,
We are not sure where we are or who we are,
This is not a comfortable place,
Be among us we pray.
Calm our fears, save us from discouragement,
And help us to stay on course.
Open our hearts to your guidance so that our journey
to this
Unknown place continues as a journey of trust. Amen.

The Rev'd Canon Kristi Philip
Women's Uncommon Prayer, p. 55

In His Service,

Jane +

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