God Knew….Liminal Spaces

 

What in the world are you up to, Father? Resting in a liminal space was not part of my plan. 

But here we are. 

Do you ever imagine God in Heaven lovingly giggling as we plan and dream for the future? In my mind He is gently patting me and saying, “I will be with you every step of the path you are not choosing to walk, but the one you will be on.” 

Oh, dear.

I chose the word “Commit” as my One Little Word this year. After I chose it, I was determined to follow through.  I hired a virtual assistant to help me with techy things, wrote down goals, HAD PLANS.  I was READY to do my part in spreading the gospel.

And then our family landed in a liminal space that wasn’t in my plans AT ALL. 

Liminal Space

Perhaps the term liminal space is totally unfamiliar to you. It was new to me, too, until I was first introduced to the concept at my first Holy Yoga retreat. How did I NOT know about it? The term perfectly explained a life condition we are all familiar with.  It is a place we will all find ourselves multiple times in our lives. 

Liminal space-The word liminal comes from the Latin word ‘limen’, meaning threshold – any point or place of entering or beginning. A liminal space is the time between the ‘what was’ and the ‘next.’ It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing.

Liminal space is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let it form us.

Backstory…

About 3 years ago, I was gifted a few months with a Life Coach. Skeptically, I jumped into the work and soon realized it was LIFE CHANGING. Turns out renewing your mind has an awful lot to do with paying attention to your thoughts, which lead to feelings, which lead to actions, which lead to results. 

Sounded goofy to me, but once again, my initial reaction to something was WRONG! I’m so glad I said yes to the opportunity when it was presented to me. Note to self: God’s plans for me are so much better than mine.

Anyhoo, last fall, I signed up to take a certification course to become a Certified Christian Life Coach. I felt like it was what I was supposed to do and God’s will for me. In the past, I have been kind of frozen in inaction afraid that I was doing things that were my idea and not necessarily God’s plan. 

My standard now is if I get an idea that may be a blessing to someone, or require obedience from me, won’t hurt anyone, comes from a clean place of service in my heart, I’m saying yes. God has also shown me to not be focused on the results, but to let HIM handle that. Obedience is my job, results are His. Takes all the pressure off! 

Since Christian Life Coach Certification ticked all those boxes, I felt that I had the green light for this. So I filled out the application and had peace about it whether or not I was accepted. 

When the acceptance letter hit my email, I was super-excited to see what God had planned for the program that started in February. “Commit” seemed like a perfect word to anchor my year. And I couldn’t wait to share what I was learning and help whomever God brought my way. 

Then Liminal Space Happened

In January, our dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the same diagnosis Brad’s mom received almost exactly the year before. What the heck?

Sidebar: Read about Mary here.

What should I do?

Eventually, I reconciled the fact that none of this was a surprise to God, and I have continued with the program. 

Like He does, God has knocked my socks off with the blessings of this difficult journey for dad and our family. 

Blessings in the Liminal Space

One:

He placed me with a group of wonderful Christian women from all over the United States who are also training to be Christian Life Coaches. These new sisters have loved me, coached me and prayed for our family. Actually, two of their fathers also received cancer diagnoses since we started and we are a great support system for one another. No surprise to God!

Two

Local friends and extended family continue to reach out, offering prayers, food, kind words and their presence to all of us. We appreciate them so much. 

Three

Members of Morning Exhale have stepped up to lead the comments on Bible Recap, participate in a 40 Day Sugar Fast with me, and now they are volunteering to share their stories of God’s care in their own lives. What a blessing! 

Four

Dad is leading the way in handling difficult circumstances. His faith is firm and true and he is facing this part of his story with courage and kindness and love. We aren’t surprised. He continues to be an example of a life well-lived for all of us. 

How about you?

Perhaps you find yourself in your own liminal space. I pray that you are willing to look for the blessings of God, to see the ways God is walking with you, to learn the lessons of transformation of the heart that occur in times that are sad and lonely and unexpected. 

God’s mercies truly are new every morning. His grace never ends. He loves us so. And He is waiting with our loved ones in Heaven if we are surrendered to Him. 

What a reunion that will be! 

Don’t know Him yet? What in the world are you waiting for? Reach out and let’s talk.