A NEW…Part 2

In our last talk, I shared that New represents Growth.

No matter our age, we should never stop growing.

We were created to flourish, which is another way of saying grow. New, is how we grow.

While growth may not always be comfortable, it is necessary to live. Because when something stops growing it dies.

Just as the crawling caterpillar is comfortable in the tight and cozy chrysalis that squeezes it and reshapes its nature/character it still must grow to emerge as a new creature that can fly. We must do the same.

New is our chrysalis that gives us the opportunity to grow wings and fly.

Irritation and unrest are often present when you know you should be flying and not crawling. The view is much better from above.

You were created to be the Head, and not the tail.

If you don’t like feeling uncomfortable, then you don’t want to be New.

Nothing grows in comfort. Growth may not always be assigned to work for us, sometimes it is assigned to work on us. To prepare us.

Growth is Work. New is Work. Make no mistakes about it.

New requires transition. The Old you should not recognize the New you...Caterpillar to Butterfly. One has 16 legs/things going on, doing the most, while the other is just floating, light and easy. Trusting its creator.

When I was considering how we should position ourselves for A New, my thoughts went to a Newborn.

What must it be like for a Newborn to transition into a New Normal, a New Environment with New Requirements, a New Self? Its first time…

I believe that we can learn a lot from a Newborn’s transition to New.

The birthing process that a Newborn must go through exemplifies and personifies a lot of the same challenges that we must go through in life.

Prior to being born into the new world, a Newborn was just getting comfortable in their environment. The instability of that egg life or last season was over. They are tucked in a nice safe place of routine. SSDD

Change is inevitable, Growth is preference. You have to want to grow.

When a mother is in her last phase of labor, it is referred to as the transition phase. During the transition phase her cervix dilates, the baby sack shifts, contractions become more intense, and her body is trying to push its new tenant out of its home. Just like an eagle does its nest.

The Newborns experience during all of this is likely to be just as intense. I would imagine that this new beginning feels more like an ending.

During the transition phase the Newborns world is shifting and shaking. Life as it once was, it is being torn apart. Things are becoming increasingly tight, unstable and unsettled. Nothing is like it used to be.

What is happening? It must wonder. Been there, done that. Have You?

In some cases, labor, or being challenged to move/change/shift/grow, must be induced.

Have you ever had to be induced to move? Induced to change or grow?

Induced to associate with new people, to be in a new place, to be uncomfortable? Maybe you’re in that place now.

Here are some common reasons for induction:

1.    If the Newborn/person stays where they are, they will be at risk of not continuing to develop properly as they should.

    Transition induces Growth! New challenges require New skills.

2.    The due date has passed. You’re supposed to be at a different level.  

  You should have been delivered from “that” by now.

 3.    Unhealthy and problematic symptoms/habits have developed.

  Stagnation is now causing Tension, Sickness and Irritability.

 4.    Growth has been hindered.

  We were created to grow/flourish/and experience New, but that doesn’t happen when you are stagnant.

Induction can come in a variety of ways/means:

1.    Something gets added to the environment to stimulate us. Good, bad, unknown, whatever it takes to cause movement. But remember “all things work for our good” Romans 8

 2.    The environment around us erodes. The water must be ruptured. Things begin to dry up. Gotta move!

 3.    Contractions. People, structure, relationships, organizational changes are causing unease. I gotta go, NOW!

Sometimes rejection is just redirection in disguise. No just means not this way.

The Bible refers to those who have learned to rely solely on God as their parent, as Newborns. Trusting, vulnerable, dependent, and simplistic.

Birth, like New, represents a significant transition from the life we had. It involves traveling through challenges, discomfort, uncertainty, pain, but ultimately culminating with a New beginning and a New start.

Both birth and life require us to learn to adapt, adjust, overcome, not be so sensitive and accomplish the feat that has been set before us so that we can reach that New Phase in life.

Growth happens under pressure.

Old things can’t go with us into New places. We must shed the placentas; those things which could only bring us temporary comfort.

Do you know Who or What your placentas are?

Uncomfortable signifies Unconventional. This is not like the last time.

We don’t know HOW or WHAT we can count on, but we do know WHO. The same One who has always been there for us. God!

During birth the head is first. To get your New, you gotta get your mind New first. Your disposition will alter your destination.

We are both giving birth and being birthed at the same time as we transition into new phases of life.

We are being born into a new environment and we are to bring our newness into that new environment.

Birth is a New Beginning of a New Life.

Happy Birthday! Happy New!

This is a Thompson Truth