Sometimes the middle mile is the hardest. That place where there is nothing of interest to look forward to and the excitement of the past is such a distant memory we barely remember the fun and glamor of it all.
When the Middle Mile comes to us in life, it’s known as middle age.It’s where our bodies don’t work as good as they used to,we start to reevaluate our ambitions and goals, andour kids are starting to leave the nest.
Gary Chapman, author of The Four Seasons of Marriage, has a wonderful new fictionseries that speaks to this middle mile called It Happens Every Spring:
“In book one [of It Happens Every Spring], Steve and Brenda face a common problem among middle-age couples: empty nest syndrome. Steve works too much, and with their two children out of the house, Brenda feels lonely and unfulfilled. In order to save their marriage, the two must learn to reconnect.”
TheMiddle Mile also comes to us on the job. The thrill of our new position has waned, there are no new projects on the horizon, and we are doing the same thing day-in and day-out with little or no change.
And, if we aren’t careful, the Middle Mile can settle in on us spiritually, where our prayer becomes routine, we read our Bible so we can check it off our to-do list, and we become apathetic about church attendance.
It is in the Middle Mile that the greatest opportunity forfailure occurs.
The Middle Mile of our travel is where most people fall asleep at the wheel. The Middle Mile of our marriage is where most infidelities occur. And the Middle Mile of our diet is where we eat the fudge ripple instead of the lettuce.
I think King David was in the Middle Mile of his reign and his walk with God when he slipped up with Bathsheba.
“And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” 2 Samuel 11:1
Look at the scripture carefully. David was king, yet he stayed home at a time when he would normally be heading off to war. But David tarried still at Jerusalem…. Why did David tarry at Jerusalem? Why didn’t he go with his troops to war when every other king was going?
Could King David been in the Middle Mile of his life?
According tooneCommentary, David should have been in that battle.
“In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle: In that part of the world, wars were not normally fought during the winter months because rains and cold weather made travel and campaigning difficult. Fighting resumed in the spring.
David sent Joab . . . But David remained at Jerusalem: David should have been out at the battle but he remained behind. In 2 Samuel 10 Joab and the army of the mighty men were preserved against the Syrians and the Ammonites, but they did not win a decisive victory. The decisive victory came when David led the battle at the end of 2 Samuel 10. Both through custom and experience God told David, “You need to be at the battle.” But David remained at Jerusalem.” (Enduring Word Commentary)
What To Do About The Middle Mile
So you say, “Yes, I see myself in these scenarios. I think I am indeed in a Middle Mile experience, so what do I do?”
Here are some tips:
–Change your routine. If you always give the kids cereal for breakfast serve something radically different. If they always take the bus at 7:05am, try driving them to school for awhile and using the extra time to sing a silly song, or pray, or talk. Anything is okay as long as it’s something completely out of the box of what you would normally do.
–Change your prayer habits. If you always pray first thing in the morning on your knees, try going for a prayer walk first thing in the morning, or making prayer the last thing you do before you go to bed. Maybepray in a different room or in a different location all together.
–Seek out new resources. There are many wonderful books and websites out there that can speak to your specific need. A quick Google search should provide a place to get started.
–Learn something new. Get involved in a new ministry at church. If you have always taught the 4 year olds, see if you can assist with the teens. Or take a pottery class or something else that interest you. Or go to www.volunteermatch.com to see what volunteer opportunities might be in your community.
–Pray and seek wise counsel. Of course, prayer should always be your first line of defense. Ask the One who made you to help you get through your present sense of stagnation. But, if you feel that your Middle Mile is more than just a passing phase, then seek wise counsel. Talk to your pastor or a trusted mentor. (Ephesians 4:11)
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, there are no middle miles with you. Yet you know in our humanity, we struggle. Please help us not to become complacent in the life tasks that you have given us. Breathe fresh joy into our day-to-day duties. Help us to approach even the smallest job as a worship unto you. We know that your word says that whatsoeverour hand findeth to do, to do it with all our might. Oh Lord, we try. We really truly do. But sometimes it all is just so overwhelming. Please forgive us for complaining and please help us to do better. In your precious holy name. Amen.