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The Middle

Last month, a conversation with my spiritual director went something like this:

her: I'm sorry to leave you in the middle of this, but our time is up. And also, it seems like that's where you are.

me: What do you mean?

her: You're in the middle of this. It's not something you can solve or fix or change right now.

me: Yes. That is true.

her: I'd just encourage you to let yourself be there.
me: Yeah...I don't have much choice. You can't run away from the middle.

her: I think people spend a lot of time running away from the middle.

me: Oh, for sure. I run away from the middle all the time. But the thing about the middle is, no matter how far you run, there you are. Still in the middle.


Life currently feels like I am running circles in the middle of a massive field like this:

View from The Middle
I am trying to learn to stop running and look around and pay attention and just let myself be in the middle of a field. There are some pretty things to see. And these circles aren't getting me anywhere.


Do you ever feel this way? What has helped you to simply be in the middle, rather than running yourself ragged? What are some things you've noticed/learned/enjoyed when you sat down and looked around? 
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