I remember those car rides of my youth very well. I always ended up stuck in the middle of the back seat between my two older brothers. I was the only girl and the youngest and the most giggliest. Is that even a word? My brothers would tickle me from both sides and I would break out in an uncontrollable giggle. The worst part was that I got in trouble for it. My parents would tell me to be quiet to which I would always reply “It’s not my fault, they started it!”
Being in the middle is not always our own choice. I am now in the middle of life and often wake up and wonder what happened to the last forty years. It just flew by. By even more than being in the middle age, I find myself in the middle of stages of life. I am not quite the empty-nester and not quite the retiree. I notice many of friends are grandparents already and are looking forward to retirement- even a few have retired already. But, for me, I just graduated from college last Spring and am ready to start the career portion of my life after being a stay at home mom for the first portion.
The middle- the between stage of life- can be daunting and confusing at times as I wonder what my career path will look like. I feel at times that I don’t fit in with the picture carrying, grandchild bragging set and yet maybe I don’t fit in with those with young children at home. I am stuck in the middle.
The middle is not so bad a place to be as the future is open and it is in those middle moments that we hold onto our faith a little more tightly. I am reminded this morning of the disciples encounter with Jesus in the middle of the lake. The Gospel of Mark specifically makes a point of telling his readers that Jesus saw the disciples straining against the wind in the middle of the lake (Mk. 6:47-48). Jesus had told them to go on ahead while He stayed behind. The were stuck in the middle of the lake, and it was dark and the wind was against them. They were probably not making much progress forward if the wind was against them. It was in this middle moment that they encountered Jesus walking on the water. Mark tells us that Jesus was about to pass by the boat, but they cried out to Him. Mark also tells us they were scared, terrified in fact (vs. 50).
Isn’t this how the middle feels sometimes? Terrifying and dark. You can’t see the shore, the destination you’re heading for and everything is against you. But, thankfully, we can call out to Jesus and He is there for us too. Right there in the middle. For the disciples their terror ended when Jesus stopped and got into the boat with them. The wind stopped and they were able to make it to the other side of the lake. Today, if you’re stuck in the middle trust Jesus to direct your path. Let Him in the boat. he can get you to the other side. God Bless -Nancy
Moving Forward 
Loved your middle perspective this morning! This was a fun prompt! Sometimes everyone sort of writes the same sort of thoughts around our word, but this week I think there will be a good variety!
Also in my middle-of-life, wondering where my first forty years went!
LikeLike
Good morning Nancy! Thank you for reminding us we are not stuck if we are in the middle of (fill in the blank). I see your husband retired from the Airforce. Please thank him for his service from me and my husband, who was Airforce and now is a police officer. Glad to connect with you from FMF, Julie
LikeLike
I love the link you make with the disciples struggling in the middle of the lake but that Jesus came to them. The middle can be a scary place but it is encouraging to know that we are not alone! Visiting from FMF #19.
LikeLike
Well-said…and please convey my thanks to your husband for his service (I worked as a paramilitary contractor, myself), and thank YOU for your service and sacrifices as a stay-at-home mom.
Y’all inspired a sonnet. Hope you like it.
We’re stuck here in the middle
of this stupid lake,
it’s stormin’ more than a little,
and our hands begin to shake.
We probably should have waited,
or checked weather dot com,
but the web’s got us post-dated
by two thousand years…too long!
And Who, now, comes a-walkin’
across the foamy wave?
Could He hear us talkin’?
Is He here to save?
He said He was just passin’ by,
but figured it’s not our time to die.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/07/your-dying-spouse-650-if-you-love-me.html
LikeLike