“How creative can we be with leftovers?” “How many shops can we get too in the sales?” “How long can we legally keep Christmas decorations up for?” “How many times will we say, I ate too much over Christmas?!!”
These are some of the phrases that fill the space in-between Christmas and new year..
It’s a strange time, a disorienting time, after all what day actually is it today… right?!!
What occupies the space in-between for you right now?
It can be excitement, anticipation of what’s to come in the new year…It can also be apprehension, anxiety, fear, doubt as to what’s to come…
The truth is all of us live in the space in-between and not just at this time of year.
It’s been said we all live life in-between the trees…
The first tree was in the garden of Eden and the final tree is recorded in John’s revelation, “….On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2 NIVUK
That’s the macro story, meta narrative, but each of live our individual lives in the space in-between…
There’s the space between our birth date and our death date, on a tombstone it’s marked as a small line, a “dash”…how we live our “dash” is how we live our life in the space in-between.
As a Jesus follower we all live in the space in-between, D day, when the war was won on the cross in reality, and VE Day, when the war was won ultimately …that time to come when the battle between good and evil will finally be realised, we all live in the space in-between.
So what can we do while we have this space in-between?
4 practices I try to employ in these few days (with varying degrees of success!)
#1 – The space to rest
Rest is a gift of God meant to be embraced and enjoyed. The space to rest without feeling the need to be productive or purposeful but to simply revel in the pleasure of rest…For me as a Christian leader I miss this so often and in this space I’m reminded of what my number one calling really is…
The primary calling of my life is not ministry it’s intimacy
#2 – The space to remember
Remember all the good things in your life and all the moments of God at work. Remember, ‘time is measured in minutes but life is measured in moments.’
#3 – The space to reflect
Reflection is a spiritual discipline and gift I fear is diminishing so fast these days…Socrates is believed to have said, ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’
In this space in-between I take time out to reflect on the year just gone, the good, the bad and the ugly! As I reflect I ask God to lead me not only to goals for this coming year but to the systems, mindsets and behaviours I need to adjust, ditch or adopt….
James Clear in his book, atomic habits said,“You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the levels of your systems “
Reflection is more than naval gazing or wishful thinking. It’s the opportunity to be intentional and purposeful with your future, the only one you have, use this space well…
#4 – The space to remind
Remind yourself of 2 really important truths as you face this space in-between…
God hasn’t finished with you yet….
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 NLT
God will always have the last word….
Yes we live in the space in-between, between the trees, living our “dash” but when you know God you know how the story ends….He wins and He always has the last word!
This year for me has been a mixed year, “a game of 2 halves” as they say in football! The first half was great the second…not so much….
Unexpected family pain has taken its toll so in this space in-between I remember what I heard someone say this past year….
Our pain won’t be purposeless or permanent
Neither will yours be….
So use these days well, invite God to fill the space….the space in-between…..
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