The spirituality of transitions
Or: what I learned from moving 8 times in 5 years

According to the Tibetan Book of the Dead, death is not an ending, but a transition to another life. How well you handle transitions during life will determine how well you handle your transition at death to the next life, and ultimately makes the difference between ending up a fly or a god, next time around.

While I don't believe in reincarnation, I do think there is some wisdom here in recognizing that living well, especially in today's mobile society, means learning to deal with transitions well.

Part of learning to deal with transitions is learning the meta-information. I may not know what the neighborhood I'll be moving into looks like, but I've learned how to go about finding all the back roads. Knowing what you'll need to know is part of the battle.

Transitions are also spiritual because they put us in a place of vulnerability. We realize our own fragility and human loneliness being far from what's familiar. This is an especially important time to practice spiritual disciplines that calm and give perspective, and to be in touch with friends and family we've left behind. But more than that, it's an opportunity to reflect again on how much we really do depend on God, and to choose again to trust God in all our most difficult times. God is with us, caring for us always. During transitions is when we most need to see and accept this.

May God bless you in your transitions.