Change….I’m in the middle of it!

Well my time with the EPPD is nearing its end. Another few weeks of work, a bit of time off around the holidays, then back to the office for a week or so to clean out the place. Then my 25 years with the department ends.

I pulled an old book off my shelf the other day called “Transitions”. It was assigned reading from when I was in the MBA program at the University of St. Thomas (never completed by the way, but lots of knowledge gained as I completed about half the course work). The book is by William Bridges (click here to visit his website) and its basic message has stuck with me for the past 15 years since I first read it.

The book describes the three phases of a transition: Endings, The Neutral Zone and New Beginnings. As much as you might try (and I have) you can’t skip a phase, hurry it or multitask all three at the same time. There are some variations, but by and large, that’s the drill. Right now I’m finishing my Ending. I was hoping to overlap my New Beginning and skip the Neutral Zone, but it looks like that’s not going to happen. And you know what? This ending is more enjoyable as I spend some time with it and savor it a bit. I’m really going to miss coming to the PD every day, but I’m also very excited to start my next adventure in the ministry.

A friend of mine gave me another perspective on the neutral zone. He referred to it as space. Take some time he said and enjoy your space before starting off on the next career. That’s what he is doing right now, and he’s a pretty smart guy so I think I’ll take his advice.

I’ll keep you updated on how it goes.