The Middle Seat

Typically, I don’t pay attention to commercials on TV which may also hold true to a show that I am watching because I multi task while the TV is on.  However, I saw a commercial this week that caught my attention.  It mentioned one phrase which immediately creates emotion for me “the middle seat”. 
 
Darrell and I have had the opportunity to travel domestically and internationally.  We usually fly multiple times a year.  I am okay with flying however, my emotions pitch high when the flight is full and someone has to sit in the middle seat. It is really only an issue when we are flying together. Darrell is so gracious to offer but I know that it is easier for me to sit in the middle seat. So I do, not always with the best attitude coupled with feeling the need to be very considerate to the other person’s space, reeling in all of my body parts within the confines of that middle seat.  Hilariously, the song that comes to my mind is by Stealers Wheel, Stuck in the Middle With You (1972).  Even making a reference to that song, I feel the need to apologize to the one on the left (clowns) and the ones on the right (jokers) I have never termed my co passengers in those terms but the lines that say “It's so hard to keep this smile from my face, Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place” is exactly how I feel.
 
By now in this blog, I am cracking up and really enjoying myself with a smile on my face but the need to turn to the point I want to make is pressing.  For most of us, we “ride” in the middle seat.  We are not demanding, demeaning toward others, demonstrating superiority or demoralizing our fellow citizens. We are okay with the people to the left of us and the people to the right.  We are holding to our own beliefs, minding our business.  However,  I think there is coming a day in our lifetime that the “middle seat” does not fit or should not fit for us anymore.

Every blog I write comes from my own trials, tribulations, testing, temptations triumphs and fine tunings that God brings my way.  I, first and foremost, preach to myself and then through the blogs invite you to join me on this road of life.  So it is in this vein that I encourage you to use your “voice” as I need to use my “voice”.  Professionally, I encourage people everyday to “find” their “voice.” What do I mean by that? Speak how they feel, giving birth to what is inside of them, getting out of the “middle seat”.  There are so many things happening right now in our space, our lives, our culture, our country, in this vast world which many of us have been just shaking our head in unbelief.  No it is not a mirage.  These things are really happening and we may need to respond, not by just clicking our tongue and shaking our head but verbally. 

We have lived with integrity in our hearts using the Golden Rule scripture of Matthew 7:12 (NASB) 12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” to be our guide of how we treat others.  I still hold to this scripture and am not advocating for any other stance but I do believe as Christians, we need to dig deep and hold to the truth of all scriptures while still treating others in the same way we would want to be treated.  For us, we need to walk in Joshua 1:9 (NASB) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Remember, our backdrop to all we believe and do, as Christians, should be solidly based on the truth of scripture. So we very well may need to get out of the “middle seat”.

Getting out of the “middle seat” means instead of living in a restrictive zone, managing our own “limbs” and not interfering with others, we change our position, walking outwardly in the truth of scriptures and in the power of Holy Spirit.  We can speak hope, love and truth while being kind and compassionate.  There are a lot of people afraid and we may be in that same boat, but lets get out of the boat and keep our eyes on Jesus.  Just this week, I had two opportunities to speak truth and encouragement to two women, one in the grocery store and one while walking in my neighborhood. I even prayed for one of them.  As she was telling me about her upcoming surgery, I told her I would pray for her. After that commitment of prayer, I immediately remembered that there is no better time than present.  I asked if I could pray right then for her.  She said yes and grabbed my hands right in the middle of the street. There we were, two women holding hands, in the middle of the street praying. It was a blessed time. 
 
Here are some suggestions to get you in motion.  Start your day asking God to help you see others as He sees them.  Ask Him to use you as a vessel of His love and fill you with His Spirit to speak truth and life to someone.  God may lead you completely different to meet the needs of others than someone else.  Live life in your coming and go be kind and compassionate.  Look for who God would have you to take more time in meeting their needs.
 
Psalms 121 (NIV)
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains--
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip--
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you--
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm--
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.
Father God, help us to have your eyes full of love and compassion.  Fill us up with the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Blessings,
Karen