What’s Your Move?

I’ve not posted since early August – a month during which I, like many of us, have been challenged by covid in the lives of my family and friends.  Covid was, I’m grateful to say swiftly in and out leaving no trace of its venom in those who experienced its unwelcome presence. August also brought with it some things I want to write about, but as for the actual writing, no – it was not forth coming as my focus was on the family as it so often is in Aug!  It also brought with it a realisation that posting every week is not only ambitious but could lead to possible stress!  I was well prepared in advance but now, having caught up on myself, find that weekly quality sharing may not be easy to come by.  So, that being said my posts may not be weekly but will be as frequent as I am able to gather my thoughts and will continue to be on a Friday.

Now, thoughts turning to our subject matter, question – Doesn’t September bring with it new beginnings, summers end and the lazy approach of autumn?   The kids are back at school, college and the bigger kids – uni and it’s all systems go.  Or is it? 

For many of us yes it is. But for some of us, not so much.  Life is rarely static. Pacy, go go go or slowly equals surely but not static.  We may feel as if we’re at a standstill but even then life ebbs and flows around us.  Perspective and our life season are our indicators, our ports of call. 

 A new school year can bring mixed emotions.  Relief that we got through the summer virtually unscathed and can now add some routine back into our lives, sadness at the end of a fun filled, random, action packed or lazy summer.  Nervousness as our children go to a new school or we, them or both start a new job and even dread if our family’s school experience or our job has been fraught with difficult issues and what lies ahead threatens to be more of the same.  There is no one size fits all here.  For me I’ve always had 2 New Years.  Markedly so since having school age children and working in a school with a new team and new children to teach, coach and love.  January was always a spiritual new year as I prayed about what God had in store for the coming year and September was the children’s new year.  A new beginning for all of us, another opportunity to cleanse the palette and go again.  To put the good, bad and indifferent of the last year behind us and go again.  A new opportunity to thrive both academically and relationally.

But where are you in all this?  Are you in the glad to be on the move/in routine again or is it a new day that you haven’t yet explored?  For me my life season is a real port of call here.  For many of us the pandemic threw some curve balls that we’re still deciding whether to return or hold on to.  After a summer of deliberation I have officially left the school teaching system and am continuing to be at home full time, a sabbatical becoming an ending, of sorts. But this doesn’t mean life is slow or static – just different.

If you’ve read my ‘bit about me’ page and my first post ‘the decision’ you will know that just like most women, life is full or responsibility. But this is where perspective intervenes.  My life season has for a while included caring for my mum, my family and a desire to write but post pandemic it has transitioned into full time caring and a putting off of my teaching and supporting job.  Don’t misunderstand – though I’ve officially left the school system it doesn’t impact on who I am in that regard and major life changes don’t have to impact on who you are or have been, in the way that they make you feel less than you are.

Let me unpack this.  Pre marriage I was a PA for 12 years which involved a lot of organising, diaries etc.  When I officially hung up that job title to be a stay at home mum I used exactly those skills to organise a home that grew to 7 people with diaries, agendas, extracurricular activities etc.  you get the picture.  Pre teaching/assisting, I taught all my own children to read and home schooled 2 of them for a year during years 4 and 5 which included all subjects and field trips. Again, you get the picture.  In both cases I used my God given gifts and skills without having official titles or getting paid to do the jobs.  If the callings and skill set are in you, then you will operate in them in your life even when you are not doing it because that’s what you ‘do for a living’.  Now, full circle, I’ve put on my PA hat again and am helping my husband with his business and it’s that change of season that has allowed me to do this.  With the last of my 4 happily starting college came the realisation and relief that whilst we are still driving the car, power steering is in operation and I can hold the wheel more lightly and begin to think, ok – what’s next?

If this in resonates with you in any shape or form, if you find your life season slowing or changing this September check your perspective,  Even if you don’t know what’s next the fact that you’re thinking or feeling restless or unfulfilled is a sure sign that you are ready to add or explore something new.  That you’ve got space or are ready to make space in your brain for something or someone.

In closing, let me offer you this:

Whether you have a title or not, whether you use your gifts on a voluntary basis or are paid to do what you find you either love or are good at (hopefully it will be a mixture of both!) if it is in you it will always find a means to be expressed.  As I’ve grown as a human being and as a Christian I find I’m more content not to be acknowledged by man for what I do.  I have the peace in my soul that if God called me to it, He also sees and whether people pat me on the back, give me a title, financially reward me or not God will.  Especially if I believe He will.  The saying ‘you can’t out give God’ is actually true.  He is no man’s debtor and never forgets a sacrifice or an offering.  There is real security in that.  Of course we are all wired to give and receive appreciation and long may that appreciation continue.  It helps the world go around but knowing in your heart that God’s got you and that he sees and rewards in his way, in his timing is second to none and carries with it a peace and security that can’t be measured.

So, explore your gifts, think about the thing you love.  Even if your time for change isn’t now the seeds of change are sown long before the fruit grows and the flower blossoms.