Bridging In-Between Seasons in Our Lives

By Christine Murray

On a recent hike, I paused to reflect after I saw a small footbridge that crossed over a little creek. Looking at this simple yet sturdy structure, I couldn't help but reflect on how it symbolizes the transitional seasons in our lives. Often, we find ourselves between different seasons or parts of our lives, moving toward positive changes yet feeling held up in the middle (and maybe even pulled back to the past). As such, this bridge seemed like a fitting metaphor for navigating these in-between times.

In-between seasons are natural parts of change–although they sometimes feel quite uncomfortable even if we know they’re a part of life. These seasons can feel uncertain, but they are often necessary for our growth and preparation as we move into a new chapter of our lives. Embracing the natural flow of transitions can help us move forward with more ease and acceptance.

Just like bridges are built in structurally sound ways, we can tap into our personal strength and sturdiness as we move through life changes. Bridges are built to be able to withstand a lot of pressure and heavy loads. Similarly, we can be intentional about building our inner strength to remain resilient during times of change. Recognizing our strengths can provide comfort and confidence during seasons of change.

Bridges–big and small–remind us that we often have a choice in how quickly we move across the gap seasons. Sometimes, we may choose to linger on a bridge and take in the scenery, while at other times, we hope to cross it quickly. Whenever possible, we can make the right decisions for ourselves about our pace during transitions. It's important to focus on our direction more than our speed and trust that our pace is right for us, even if it feels faster or slower than the pace that works for others.

Bridges also can show us that, while standing in the middle of an in-between season, we can choose to look back to where we came from, especially if it helps us learn as we reflect on lessons from the past. Often, our past experiences hold lessons that can inform our future decisions and plans. By acknowledging and learning from our previous experiences, we can identify clues that might help us move toward a brighter future.

Here are a few key takeaways that I invite you to consider regarding how bridges can be useful metaphors during transitional seasons in your life:

• In-between seasons are natural parts of change: Embrace transitions as essential periods of growth and preparation.
• Strength and sturdiness: Recognize your inner strength and resilience during times of change.
• Pace and direction: Focus on your direction rather than your speed, and move at a pace that feels right for you.
• Reflection on the past: Look back to learn from your previous experiences, using those lessons to inform your path forward.

It’s natural to wish we could speed through some of the in-between seasons we face in life. These times of change can be quite uncomfortable and stressful. However, bridges help to remind us that we can be strong, patient, and reflective during life’s transitions, especially as we’re moving toward positive changes that we hope to see in our lives.