Recorded MP3 audio meditations: downloads and audio streams, written reflections and contemplative resources by Dorinda Miller

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Letters to Corinne

Re-Entry: Return & Recover

Tuesday, September 20th, 2016

Return & Recover

Dear Corinne,

It was lovely to see you and to catch up with you, on your return from your travels. Welcome back! You asked if I would send you some of the points we covered in our conversation about Re-Entry. So here goes……..

I know that since the middle of the last century the term ‘Re-entry’ has largely referred to spacecraft returning to earth……though not applicable to you, you do seem to have sped round the world at speed and managed to take in a sizeable number of countries and cultures during the time you were away! Neither does the 1960’s slang definition, “the act of descent from narcotic ecstasy” (dictionary.com) apply to you!

However, the original definition of Re-entry, “the act of entering again” (dictionary.com) is spot on for you! You have returned to your country of origin and we will look at this process as it impacts you in the coming weeks/months under the headings of Return and Recover, Review and Resume, Renew and Restore.

You have wisely allowed yourself some time and space before you fully pick up the threads of your life, as it was before you left to go on your travels. After a significant period of time away, with all the experiences from a variety of countries, with their differences in culture, climate, politics, spirituality, it is not unusual to experience a measure of Re-Entry Stress.

As you know change is part of life! Changes will have occurred in you as you have travelled, and similarly, those at home will have been impacted by changes that have occurred in their lives. What are the symptoms of Re-Entry Stress? Well you may:

  • feel disorientated and out of place,
  • you may feel disillusioned,
  • you may feel lonely, isolated,depressed,
  • you may feel irritated with certain aspects of the culture here.

Being aware of the possibility of experiencing some or all of the above, enables you not to be overwhelmed by them if/when they occur and to put strategies in place to assist you.

While we and those around us may change, we can be encouraged by the fact that: “I the Lord do not change.” Malachi 3:6 and Hebrew 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

As you return, recover, and reorientate back into this climate and culture you may find it helpful to reflect on your travels and to highlight the times that were especially significant for you. For each one consider:

  • What made it so special ?
  • What did you learn from it?
  • Where was God in it?
  • What blessing did it give you?
  • What action did it prompt you to take?

Then, using the collection of stones that you acquired along the way on your travels, build a Tower of Thanksgiving, where each stone represents a significant incident from your time away. Or maybe make a line or circle, if the size and shape of the stones makes this construction impossible! You could listen to the Pillar meditation, which covers a similar theme.

Let me know how you get on and how Re-Entry is going for you!

with love,

 

sig-dorinda-web

Written by Dorinda Miller; © D Miller 2016. For full credits please see the site credits page
This letter is from the series: 'Re-Entry'

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G for Gone

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REVIEW & RESUME