Change is Messy!

We’re the fortunate ones in our condominium complex. Standing guard in our back yard, a stately Maple tree provides welcome shade for our south facing patio. I love that we have a tree! Trees offer texture and perspective and a playground for squirrels.

A few weeks ago, the leaves sprouted and scattered their protective pods all over the ground—and our patio. What a mess! I’d sweep the patio and the next time I looked out the yellow/green confetti was everywhere again. Just as I’ve forgotten the first phase, the maple will send oodles of “helicopters” spinning to the lawn creating an even bigger mess. Finally summer will bring full leaves and the lovely tree I am so grateful for.

The messiness of spring often distracts me from fully appreciating the tree. I forget that the chaos of spring is part of the natural life cycle. The messiness of transition and change is just a sign that a new season is approaching.

The same thing happens in our own life cycles. Change is messy. Old identities are lost, new ones not yet established. The in between place is unfamiliar, uncomfortable and often chaotic. We complain about the lack of order and are frustrated by not being able to control it.

But if we just pause and remember that it’s all a natural cycle, we’re less likely to focus on the mess and instead, eagerly await the gorgeous tree that is just around the corner.

Change IS messy, but it also can bring us something new and wonderful. In fact, the new can’t come to us without letting go of the old.

Where are you in the natural process of transitions? Are you focusing on the old, the mess, or looking forward to what’s new?