Not Yet

Though it’s officially autumn, here in Chatham, Ontario, we can still step outside and be embraced by a summer-like, sun-kissed hug, though a few of our maples have already shed their brilliant leaves. We actually swam a few times last week, both in Lake Huron and in the cold, spring-fed Lake Manitou. And though Tim Horton’s is featuring their pumpkin spice muffins, I’m still wearing sandals.

I thought about pulling out my fall decor today and puttering around the house, switching out the summer apple green pillows and throws for more layers of rust and gold but I just can’t. Not yet.

Sometimes, it’s good to rest in the “not yet” season of life.

“Have you received a diagnosis?”

“Not yet.”

“Did you get the job?”

“Not yet.”

“Did he call back?”

“Not yet.”

This “not yet” season is a time when we could easily choose to complain, and become hardened, or it can be a season when the most lovely of human qualities- patience, empathy, gentleness and self-control are developed. As we surrender to the “not yets”, we realize we’re not as in control of our lives as we think we are.

Perhaps this is the beginning of true humility.

By the way…

If you’d like to dive deeper, Jeff Manion presented a brilliant lecture at the Global Leadership Summit (average attendance 250,000 annually). It’s called, “The Land Between”, defined as the period between a past situation and a future one; a state of being in transit that is often filled with uncertainty and emotional challenge. Highly recommend!!