Transformation, Part I: Tuesday's Reflection

Before

After

All summer Bruce has been painting the exterior of our house. Now, instead of a more gold than yellow color, the house is a refreshing and uplifting aqua blue. The trim is a clean white as is the stucco, replacing an off white in need of a good scrubbing, and the window boxes are now a crisp black, rather than the faded forest green of previous years. 

The house is transformed, and we love the new look.  

This house may date from the 20's, but this new look has given it new life and it has become, as Meridel Le Sueur wrote, "luminous with age." 

Of course, this transformation did not happen without a vision of what this house could look like, nor did it happen without work. Bruce spent many days on the ladder this summer, and once he started there was no turning back. True, we could have second guessed ourselves and decided we didn't like the chosen color. We then would have needed to select a different color, maybe a safer one like white or grey, but it would not have been possible to return to the way it was. 

My job was to notice the change and to encourage and compliment and reinforce. Sometimes one just needs to get used to the change.

Transformation is like that. 

Joan Chittister says that an important part of the aging process "lies in simply getting accustomed to being older." But hasn't that always been the case. We've needed time to get used to other changes in our life, even when we have chosen them. Time to adjust to living or working some place new or time to accept a health challenge or a loss of a relationship. Over our many years we have had experience with change and transformation. 

We know how to do this, even when it isn't easy, even when it requires patience, but here's what I love about transformation.

The process of transformation reminds us that no matter who you are, how old you are or what has happened to you in the past or what you have done, it is still possible to be and do something new. Just look at our sweet little 1920's cottage.

An Invitation

What is waiting to be transformed in your life? What new "color" is calling you? I would love to know.