This morning I woke with a simple thought running through my mind...

Life is a series of corridors.

As I lay there pondering all it meant, I realised that about this time two years ago, I released a small ebook called Great in Between (how to navigate your seasons of transition). It was written during one of the hardest in-between seasons of my life.

I had left all I knew to follow the voice of Love with nothing more than an assurance that He had called me out, a one-way ticket to Europe in my hand and the hope that whatever was waiting for me on the other side was going to be worth it.

Today, once again, I find myself contemplating the closing of a door as I step into the corridor, not knowing what lies ahead.

When I wrote the book, I thought I had learnt all I needed about navigating the uncertainty of transitions...and to a certain extent, I had. I survived the crossing to and from Europe and then found my way to a wide open space full of smiles.

I also thought transitions would become easier...to a certain extent, they haven't! On the odd occasion, the waves of anxiety still threaten to take me out. However, I am more assured than ever before that as I walk through this current corridor (even if I trip more than I walk) that this too will end with a smile.

But it has me thinking...

Walking through seasons of TRANSITION is sometimes like being led into an empty corridor without windows. You think you are simply passing through, ready for the next available appointment to the new thing. Easy access in and through. A to B. In the beginning, it's a corridor full of promise and excitement. One of intrigue and anticipation of all that is to come. "Here it is", you think to yourself. "The fulfilment of destiny and dreams lodged deep in the heart. This is it... the BIG REVEAL!"

Then suddenly, everything changes. The lights are switched off, and you are left alone in the dark….seemingly to fend for yourself.

At first, you're shocked and wonder whether the darkness is due to an electrical fault. You feel your way slowly at first to find one of the walls. Something to guide you, a foundation to lean on as you wait for the light to return. Leaning against the wall in the pitch dark, all your senses are on alert. For what? You're really not sure. "Hello?" you half-heartedly call out. "Is there anyone there?" After waiting a few more minutes, the uneasiness starts to set in. You've changed your mind, and you want out. You begin to feel your way back to where you came from, only you find that the door you entered has now disappeared.

You cry out once again, but this time with a little more urgency. "Hello? Can someone please help me? I can't get out."

You sense someone is on the other side, yet they don't seem to hear you or want to help. You try to find the place of escape, to change what's going on, and you bang on the walls, desperate to feel your way out, scream your way out. Panic sets in, and you try all you know to do, but nothing works.

Nothing has gone as planned. At least not the way you imagined it, and here you are trapped…no way forward, no way back. You struggle a little more then finally, you give up.

Silence.

It's at that moment that you are aware of the Voice.

The gentle and reassuring whisper to BE STILL and simply KNOW. You question, you doubt, but then a peace that passes all understanding enters the space. From where?!

After what seems like an eternity, a light begins to shine…not the whole corridor but a faint spotlight, and beyond that, you see what appears to be a door. It wasn't there before. You sense the Voice asking you to move forward. You wonder if this is all a mirage, a trick to entice you towards another dead end, a darker corridor if that's even possible. The dark corridor has become familiar, even comfortable, secure in some warped way, and it takes incredible courage to make that step, but you do.

And then the questions begin again.

What if this is the best there is? What if leaving the present for the future only leads to more confusion and uncertainty? What if the light you are following is not for your benefit? What if it's only there to distract you and add to the confusion, not bring the much-needed clarity you have been crying out for?

What then?

You ponder your escape. Surely there has to be another way. Yet you are strangely drawn to the possibility…but oh, the fear that's rising within. You know you can't stay where you are; the door behind you disappeared what feels like ages ago, and so you stand on the precipice of decision. Maybe this is the way forward after all. Could this be the answer to your heart's cry? Maybe, just maybe, the PROMISE is ahead.

With that, you take a long slow deep breath in and lifting your foot, take a STEP FORWARD. To many, it would look like a shuffle, but to you, it's a leap. Your landing is secure. It feels safe. Surprised, you stand for a moment to take it in. This feeling that you just caught a glimpse of…could that be peace, that knowing? The discussion within goes something like this…."Do I dare risk another step? Is this part of the ploy of doom? Or could there be more to this than darkness and delay?"

Then something inside you rises. It's a glimmer of determination to see this through...whatever 'this' is!

Before you know it, your other foot is in the air, and you are about to step forward once again. As you do, it's as if PEACE, SECURITY and FAITH start to make their way up through your body from the floor. So fixed on your feet, you forgot to look up, but when you do, you notice a crack of light appears, way off in the distance, more significant than before.

The door that was shut is now ajar.

Through that door, you hear LOVE. You don't know why or even how, but you know that you know that behind the door is the PROMISED LAND. And so you step once again. Occasionally the ground appears to shake. Every time you look down at your feet, you notice how fragile the earth beneath you is. Fear tries but fails to overtake the peace that always wins in the end.

You contemplate turning back once again, but you've come so far. You look towards the door, and faith rises. That door was there all along, you just couldn't see it, so you make your way towards it…one step at a time….eyes fixed ahead. At times you feel like you won't make it, but you keep going; FAITH rising, HEART expanding, and EYES opening. And there it is. The door is wide open in front of you. Finally, you arrive.

The light is bright, the expanse great, and as you take one more step through the door, you hear the Voice of Love, "WELL DONE, my good and faithful friend. You made it. I knew you could. I was there WITH YOU every step of the way. The adventure has only just begun."

You smile. He was right. Looking back, you knew, and so you take His hand and let Him lead. The adventure hadn't even really started, and the best was definitely yet to come!

Today if you are going through the in-between bit at the moment, I hope this is the day you catch a glimpse of the door up ahead....and if you can't see even a thin crack of light shining through, I hope you will be so aware of the One who is with you every step of the way. And when you finally step through that wide open door full of smiles (because you will!), always remember the adventure has only just begun!

Fi x