We can endure many things when we know the end is coming soon. And much of life operates with some type of beginning and ending. But this is not the case with our journey of becoming. While there might be some intention in starting, it’s a work that doesn’t end.
For instance, we generally start school or a training program with a graduation date in mind. And even when this is several years down the road, we still start knowing this won’t last forever.
And this is often the same mindset we bring to our personal development. But this is a journey that doesn’t end.
Of course, there are milestones along the way and these should be celebrated. We’re not the same person we were yesterday or last year, and certainly we’ve changed over the past decade. While there are moments of breakthrough, much of our growth is gradual. But either way, we should readily be able to look back and see how much we’ve grown.
At the same time, this past growth doesn’t mean we’ve arrived. There’s no graduation that brings an end to the inner work we’re called to do. And this is part of what makes this work so hard. We want a clear beginning and end, and there’s not one.
It’s perhaps best to think of this work in seasons. There are intentional seasons of working through things as well as seasons of rest in which there’s not much active work to do. But while seasons come and go, the work itself continues. And will continue to some degree until the day we die.
This is not a point of despair, but rather a reminder of our need for patience and courage. And also of hope that our best is still yet to come.
In the end, celebrate your many milestones along the way. And don’t lose heart when you realize your journey of becoming is a work that doesn’t end.
Photo by Finde Zukunft on Unsplash
