Reflection

I've been reflecting a lot lately.  Transition and change does that - it naturally forces me into a place of reflection.  Many of you have seen these reflections expressed on Facebook and Instagram with the labels #paradeoflasts and #bittersweet.

In LINK class, we had a time of guided reflection as we processed...

The end of another year.

Summer break.

Unknowns ahead.

Upcoming travel.

New beginnings.

Goodbyes.

Students who are moving to other continents.

Students who are "left behind" as dear friends move across the ocean.

Students who love middle school.  Others who are more than eager to leave.

Students who are trusting Jesus, and some who haven't chosen that yet.

We brainstormed our tried and true strategies for preparing for change.  Because these students know. 

They know that they need a song or a verse to hold onto.  

That they need to gather the email addresses of their departing friends.  

That this is the season of savoring and reconciling and affirming.

As we continued this conversation about transition, we filled in wheels of emotions (pictured below).  Students could create a pie graph or stripes or just randomly write their feelings.  I wasn't sure how the boys would react to all of this "feeling" talk, but some of them were the most eager in the class.  They asked questions and enthusiastically selected markers from my supply!  I wished we had more than a few minutes to linger in intentional reflection, but I was encouraged to know that they were taking this time seriously.

Can you feel the pull of mixed feelings?  Can you sense the tug-of-war of opposing emotions?

This student began with 50% sad but changed it to 60% when she was informed (during the activity) that another friend would also be leaving at the end of the year.

This departing student and I agreed that, although "overwhelmed" isn't technically an emotion, it's something that we are both feeling right now.

Would you pray for these students as they continue to process these changes?  Will you join me in lifting up this community during this season of transiency?  Certainly many of you also face uncertainties up ahead.  May we each choose to lean into God's grace in the transitions, His peace in times of reflection, and His sovereignty as we take another step into the unknown.

I'm linking up with The Grove at Velvet Ashes, where the topic last week was "leaving."