THE ART OF LEAVING
THE ART OF LEAVING
I don’t like goodbyes. I’m not fond of departures, which is funny because we’ve made more than a few new starts in our lives. One would think I’d be a pro at departing or saying goodbye. Nope, not at all.
My first big move was to Miami for my husband’s job. I cried the entire four-hour drive to South Florida. After ten years in Miami, we moved back to Central Florida, and it was harder than the first move! A few years ago, I left Virginia to return to Florida full-time, and it broke my heart. It was so hard to leave my friends. I pretty much sobbed the entire week of my departure. I still cry when my adult sons leave after their visits home, which is most likely the reason I’m no longer invited to ride along with them to the airport. Departures just aren’t my thing.
Life is a Series of Leaving
I’ve always believed there is an art to leaving, a particular gift or skill set that I haven’t been able to obtain or grasp. Imagine my surprise (and relief) when my professor recently shared that “life is a series of leaving.” What?
Dr. Forlini shared, “Life is a series of leaving, and we make certain decisions when we leave. Decisions on what things we will take with us (those things we keep holding on to) and what things we will leave behind.”
As I reflected on her words, my mind opened to a new way of thinking about leaving. These words awakened my mindset, a fixed mindset where I dreaded goodbyes because of the baggage I packed up and brought with me. Baggage that was meant to be left behind. My new thought process – departures are for those things that no longer have a place in my life – the burdens, the unforgiveness, and the sadness. I’ll say goodbye to the baggage upon my parting, but for my friends, I’ll bid them farewell with a see you again, my friend!
Forget All That!
For years, I’ve allowed my new beginnings to be surrounded by sadness because I’ve decided to pack up the very things I should be leaving behind. Does this make sense to you? Maybe not if you already understand the art of leaving, but for those of us who are not gifted with the art of saying goodbye, it makes perfect sense.
“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” Isaiah 43:18-21 (NLT)
With this revelation, I will no longer say goodbye with dread as I roll my luggage to the car or Uber, but I will exclaim with exuberance, hasta la vista! Goodbye to the old, because I am stepping into the new, moving forward with gratitude for what God has planned for me.
Embrace the Change
This new mindset allows me to embrace the change and the transition of each new beginning. Without it, how can I accept God’s blessings and step into the plans He has for me if I am continually unpacking all the baggage I was to leave behind – the unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, sadness, whatever baggage I’ve brought with me that will hinder my faith walk. As Isaiah 43:18 states, “forget about all that – it is nothing compared to the plans God has for you!”
So, I ask you, what are you holding onto?
What do you keep packing in your Samsonite or Vera Bradley only to unpack upon your arrival? Is it unforgiveness or brokenness? Whatever it is, give it to God. He will make a way for you.
“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.” Exodus 23:20 (NLT)
Allow Him to lead you to the place He has prepared for you. Let go and let God.
Au Revoir!
Image Credit Reyni Ramirez Illustrations
Love this! As an Army wife, I do a lot of leaving and starting over! One of my favorite things about moving is getting to hit the reset button. The longer we’re in one place, the more things we get involved in. And it can be hard to break free from some of those commitments. So, each time we move, I have a graceful out, if you will. Then I have to remind myself to be very choosy with my time as we establish our new norm in the next place. And I’ve discovered the blessing in that. Great advice here!
I love this Liz – hitting the reset button, establishing a new norm. Thank you for sharing. I believe your thoughts would make a great blog post. Thank you for connecting!
I love that verse! I agree, leaving can be difficult and it is hard to let go of the old sometimes, but it makes a big difference if we trust God to lead us and focus on the fact that he ha something new in store for us, which is often even better than we could have imagined.
Thank you Lesley. Thank you for the encouragement and uplifting words!
What a great perspective! Leave the baggage of unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness behind and unpack the gifts God gives.
I’m a work in progress Debbie but these words really put into perspective what I need to work on. I’m a visual learner so visualizing the suitcase helps me to leave the old behind, the old ways, as I follow God’s leading! Thank you for sharing!
Robin, this post is so very timely for me. I’ve never thought about the “art of leaving.” After 22 years, we sold our home and left behind so many memories of raising our 3 children. My heart was ready, and I know it was the right choice, but this leaving has pushed me way out of my comfort zone in all that has been known and familiar. Love the encouragement to trust that God is doing a new thing, and I want to embrace this with eager expectation and let go. So appreciate your perspective, and adore your blog picture!
Oh Crystal – prayers for you on your new journey! It’s exciting to see God opening new doors for new opportunities. I look forward to seeing Him work in this new season of your life. Thank you for sharing and connecting. I am grateful!
I’m reading this post from the perspective of a nearly 24 year season at one address, and so as my kids grow up, as friends’ circumstances take them to new places, I have been the one waving good bye from the curb. M y prayer is always to make the transition easy for them, to rejoice with them in their new opportunities, and not to let my “missing them” be a burden for them to bear.
Blessings to you!
Leaving is never easy. But you are so right, we often pack up the things we should leave behind. I have many military friends and they’ve taught me to be fully engaged right where I am, and it’s such a gift.
I so agree Sarah! To be fully engaged right where we are is important to our faith walk. Thank you for stopping by and I’m loving your bible study!
Oh this reminded me of my own life and moving 9 times. I like the idea of leaving the old baggage you don’t want to take with you. I remember my husband and I literally did this one time we moved. We were moving to a new house and the house we were moving from had a lot of bad memories due to an accident and recovery we had experienced while living there. My husband said that the new house was a new start and that we were not allowed to bring the old hurts and memories and baggage into the new house. It was like being given a clean start.
Wonderful words to live by Theresa! It’s amazing how God gives us new starts and new seasons. What a blessing for your husband to speak God’s truth over your life and new home! Thank you for sharing and I’m grateful you stopped by to connect.
So good! Leaving is never easy, but leaving the past behind is necessary to starting “tomorrow fresh with no mistakes in it”! ~~Anne of Green Gables
Stopping by from Grace Girls–happy to meet you! 🙂
Love it Vickie! Love the Grace Girls and thank you for the encouragement!
Physically, I can easily leave things behind. I’ve moved several times and decluttering is a part I’ve gotten used to. Emotionally, however, I cling to things for so long. I just can’t leave some things behind…good and bad. Thanks for this post I found it very helpful!
Me too Sandy! I can pack up a family of 5 in no time but it’s the emotional baggage that can drag me down. As Brenda reminded me, we need to travel light! Thank you for connecting!
“A series of leaving.” — so true. And, a series of becoming. God doesn’t like to let us linger anywhere too long, does He? Beautiful verses you shared today, Robyn. I’ve moved a lot too, but even beyond that, sometimes I need to not pack the unpleasantries into my heart. Ya know? A good reminder to travel lightly in this life, carrying none of the baggage that weighs us down. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 ((hug))
Your words are so true, we must remember to travel light just like Jesus! Thank you for sharing and encouraging me in my faith walk. xoxo