I had a two-year departure plan announced and in place from my overseas leadership appointment. 

During the second year of training my successors, I was given an early separation notice.

My thoughts whirled. Wow. Unbelievable. I cannot make sense of this happening. I knew my boss and I did not always get along, but I was set to leave anyway, so what was the point to send me packing six months early?

Instead of being able to move methodically into leaving as I anticipated, I felt hurled into change prematurely. The negative, shameful whirlwind of dismissal added to my transition fog. The carefully-constructed goals to finish well were ripped away.

After returning to my hometown, I remember several months of sitting in my bathrobe till afternoon, gazing out the window or walking my neighborhood streets with no sense of time or purpose. Because of my situation, my husband also had to leave his cross-cultural work. Both of us were deep in our re-entry nightmare for almost two years.

I did my best to embrace the ups and downs of this major life event. I determined to gain from the pain and not deny my mistakes (and others’) or run away. I spent months on forgiveness work, recovering emotionally, physically, and spiritually with the help of Christian professionals, spiritual mentors, family members and friends. The Word was a handbook for hope and healing. I learned a lot about myself, God and His personal care for me. New emotional, spiritual, and relational muscles developed and new life appreciation. 

God intends for us to move through transition fog successfully, but speed is not usually the best course of action. Like the old fable of the racing hare and turtle, slow and steady can best navigate the mental cloudiness and emotional upheaval. In God’s timing, sunlight broke through the clouds and shined once again on a new chapter of living. 

It was one of the hardest trials of my life, but I am a better Jesus-follower (and counselor/coach) today from the transition journey and its lessons.