Fourteen years of living in Charlotte, NC; growing friendships; healing from the devastation of widowhood; watching the kids grow into adults; and moving forward into a fabulous new life with Mark and the kids; brings me to the point of packing up boxes and moving across country to Los Angeles.
Sometimes it isn’t until you leave a place that you really see the growth and impact you have made upon it, and it has made upon you. As I tearfully embrace precious friends who have been by our side for years, I am moved by heartfelt words; cheering; powerful proclamations over our lives; and the recounting of how my life has changed from the barrenness of widowhood into the lushness of full-out life.
Through this I am reminded that growth always involves change. A seed can’t become a tree without growing and changing many times over. Change provides opportunity at every turn if we will look for it, even when stretched beyond our comfort zone. Nevertheless, there are those who will not stretch along with us in our growth, but instead choose the comfort of the familiar, as they grip their earth more securely.
I thrive on change. I love adventure and I know that with every breath there are new things to be discovered. I choose the temporary discomfort of expanding my root system beyond the confines of what I have known in order to experience greater growth. You may have heart it said that you can't discover new oceans until you are willing to lose sight of the shore.
Even if you are not saying goodbye to friends, or wiping a tear stained cheek, what new opportunity do you choose to embrace, that will facilitate change and growth in your life?
