By Jessie Goeke

I admire those who can embrace the unknown with open arms, though they are a rare and special breed. For the rest of us, transition and change can provoke feelings of fear, discomfort, and uncertainty. Yet, change is an inevitable part of all our lives.

When I started working at the synod office, I knew that in 10 short months our bishop, the staff, and the entire synod would undergo a season of transition that was not just a minor change, but rather a fundamental shift in the culture we had grown accustomed to, a change that would leave us all facing the reality that our futures would all look different in ways we couldn’t predict.

“Transitions are often a marathon, rather than a sprint.”

A truth that I know in my bones, however, is that we shouldn’t, and are never meant to, go through this type of journey alone.

When I think about how uncomfortable I feel with transition and change, this truth offers some solace. Even when my footing feels shaky, I know that calling on my people, trusting in God, and wading through the change with others in the same position as me, can ease the fear.

 

TRANSITION IS UPON the synod office these days. Alongside the many goodbyes, there are celebrations and reflections of how each of us have grown and the relationships that have been built. In a recent meeting, the staff reflected on the ways in which we have seen God at work in our tenure at the synod office. Nearly every example that was shared involved relationships. We have carried each other through the good and the bad; through grief and through fear. Though the uncertainty of change is palpable, one thing we can count on is that we are in this together.

Community is the antidote, the salve, the healing balm to the fear and uncertainty during transition. It is the mutual experience of change that draws us closer to one another.

Whether you are transitioning in big or small ways these days, I pray that you can find your community and lean into the unknown.

“Community is the antidote, the salve, the healing balm to the fear and uncertainty during transition.”

For support during periods of transition, here are 5 things you can do to help mitigate the emotional burden of change:

  • Listen to your body. Trust your body’s instincts and attend to them. Do you need more sleep? Do you need to move your body? Do you need some comfort foods? Do you need to engage in a meditation or breathing practice? Take a necessary pause and answer those questions for yourself.
  • Pace yourself. Transitions are often a marathon, rather than a sprint. Take breaks when you need to. Adjust your expectations.
  • Lean into your community. You were never meant to do this alone. Connect with friends. Call a trusted family member. Spend time with individuals who accept you for who you are and for however you show up.
  • Keep perspective. Transition is a normal part of the human experience. We have been transitioning and growing since day one and most of us have navigated seasons of tremendous change. Remember: “This too shall pass.”
  • Turn back to God. Engage in spiritual practices that center the Holy Spirit. Prayer. Discernment. Reading scripture.

Jessie Goeke, MSW, LICSW, currently serving as executive assistant to the Bishop, is also a therapist working in private practice.