This morning, as I was outside, I could sense that the season is about to change. I have to admit, I do not like to see fall coming because that means cooler weather is on the way, and eventually winter will arrive. I am not a fan of cold weather. I much prefer summer.
And yet, changing seasons are part of the cycle of life.
Changing seasons are where I am at right now.
If I am being completely honest, I do not like change. And yet, I have been preparing for this particular change for several months. This week, I will work my final two shifts as a Physician Assistant.
While I am excited about what lies ahead, this moment is also bittersweet. Closing the chapter on something I have done for the past 20 years is not quite as easy as I had imagined.
For 20 years, I have had the privilege of caring for a wide varety of patients. I have been able to walk alongside people during some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives. I have celebrated good news with them, helped them navigate difficult circumstances, and at times have simply been there to listen.
I have also had the opportunity to work alongside some truly wonderful doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. The relationships I have formed and the experiences I have shared with them are things I will always treasure.
I am sure there are many aspects of my career that I will miss. I will miss the people. I will miss the relationships . I will miss the feeling of knowing that, in some small way, I was able to make a difference in someone’s life.
But just as the seasons change, so do the season of our lives.
And perhaps that is the part I am learning to embrace.
Sometimes God asks us to leave something that has been good–not because it was wrong, but because He has something different ahead. Something new. Something that requires us to step outside of what is familiar and comfortable and trust Him with what comes next.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t sadness in saying goodbye. It doesn’t mean I won’t miss what I am leaving behind. And it certainly doesn’t mean I have everything figured out.
It simply means I am choosing to trust the One who knows what the next season holds
Just as I cannot stop fall from coming, I cannot stop the seasons of my life from changing. What I can do is choose how I respond when they do.
So, as I finish these final two shifts, I am allowing myself to feel the bittersweetness of the moment. I am grateful for the last 20 years. Grateful for the people God allowed me to care for. Grateful for the colleagues who became friends. Grateful for the lessons, the challenges, and the opportunities to serve.
And then, with some excitement, some uncertainty, and probably a little bit of apprehension, I am turning the page.
Because this season may be ending,,,
the story isn’t over!
Perhaps God is simply preparing me for a different kind of summer.
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