Transition Season
December 2024 was a time of celebration, milestones achieved, and joy!
- In the middle of December, defended my doctoral thesis with my committee. I passed, and have only minor edits to submit.
- I also bought a used car! As someone who hasn’t owned her own vehicle for many years, this has been a welcome change. In the future, I’m hoping to enjoy more of a balance between easier local travel and international travel, as international travel has been my priority.
In December, I became aware of the immense personal freedom to design my next season of life in Seattle. Now that my doctorate is nearly finished, I have more time and energy to invest in the quality of life I hope to have at home, at church, at work, and with friends. With help, I recognized that to reach these goals, I would need to intentionally walk through a Transition season. I surrendered my excitement about change and accepted a longer discernment process.
Instead of trying to accumulate milestones quickly, I am trying to imagine this Transition Season as something like floating on a River. I hope that by the end of 2025, I will have transitioned into this vision well. But it is still a season of being carried rather than being able to run, with new challenges each month for formation. As of today, I’m reflecting on the question, “What skills will I need to ultimately reach these goals?”
What materials will you build with?
As I reflected on defending my thesis, I kept considering Corinthians 3:10-15. This process of doctoral study feels like just one example of the kind of costly choices I sense God calling the Church into during 2025. I believe that there is fresh grace to receive further transformation if we are honest and invite Jesus into our vulnerability.
Worship
Names of God
Each month, I give God a name that aligns with scripture and how he revealed himself to me that month. This month, I spent the majority of time knowing him as,
The Refiner
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
Malachi 3:3
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.
Proverbs 17:3
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Job 23:10
Music
Prayer Requests
- Grace to make necessary adjustments so I can stay on track for long-term goals. And to not rush the process.
Age of the Unexpected 