Here, there or somewhere else?

So many of the conversations I’ve had with people lately have included some variation on the theme of being in-between. Maybe it’s a May thing… with all the graduations and home-comings for college students and such. There’s that sense of being done with one thing and waiting for the next, whether you know what that next thing is or not.

But it doesn’t take anything as dramatic as a graduation to get you feeling like you’re in-between. Being in-between jobs is a big one. Or the big in-between feeling that grief can leave you with (as in, when will I ever get over this pain and get on with my life). Or there are happy events like weddings which are big in-between deals, to say the least.

I’ve learned not to assume that being in-between is necessarily bad or good. It can be disorienting and anxiety-producing, but it can also be freeing or even exhilarating. I’ve had times when people have announced to me that they’ve been laid off, and just as I’m about to unleash the sympathy, they let me know it’s ok or quite a bit better than ok… that their previous job is history.

So are you getting that this week’s theme is being in-between? In what way can you put yourself into this picture, whether you’re the one living between-the-times or whether it’s someone you’re accompanying on a journey? Can you sense God’s presence with you as you walk through uncertain waters, or are you wading on your own? Go ahead and blog your thoughts here, or bring them with you to the Crowne tomorrow night (Thurs. at 7pm).

I’ll just give you this one teaser. Some of you may know that tomorrow is the day many celebrate as Ascension Day, a time to remember when the risen Jesus ascended, no longer visible but no less powerfully present. You can read the story if you like (first link below) and take a look at one image in art that I found fascinating (second link). Then tell me if you can see where I’m going with this… what Jesus’ ascension could have to do with being in-between. Of course, I’m not sure exactly where we’re going with this, so feel free to enlighten me (or just challenge me) as much as you’d like…

Peace,
Kari

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201:6-11;&version=65;

http://www.jesusmafa.com/anglais/imag59.htm