Moving from a place where making tomato soup required a harrowing market trip to somewhere you can simply buy it from the store should feel like relief, but sometimes it brings unexpected depression instead.
On this episode of Neither Here Nor There, hosts Ruthie Gomez and Laura talk to guest Audrey Wells about soul care during the entering stage of transition, when unspoken expectations clash with reality in confusing ways. They explore how the entering phase can bring both wild excitement and massive disappointment within minutes, as you process previous transition cycles while settling into new circumstances. Laura shares her personal struggle with depression after moving to beautiful Barcelona, despite the move being objectively easier than their previous location.
They discuss how disappointment can obscure your view of good things during transition, like clouds rolling over a monastery and hiding its beauty from hikers. The conversation addresses the importance of honest processing with God, using King David's psalms as a model for bringing both frustration and gratitude to prayer without pretending everything is fine. They introduce the Prayer of Examen, a daily spiritual practice developed by Ignatius of Loyola for reflecting on God's presence throughout each day using five elements: gratitude, emotional awareness, discernment, forgiveness, and petition for specific needs.
"The Lord has always been very present to me. I think I grew up, even since a young child, just sensing how close He really was," Audrey reflects. "And so in the midst of not being able to turn my gas on and not getting settled in as quickly as I thought I was able to, God just leaned in during that time and just became so present to me."
The conversation emphasizes that God's presence remains constant even when practical needs create frustration and loneliness during the settling-in process. They encourage listeners to set their primary expectations on God's faithfulness rather than circumstances, recognizing that He invites honest communication about both struggles and gratitude during difficult transitions, and that emotions serve as warning lights rather than negative experiences to avoid.