Fair to Midland

That word “reality” keeps butting its head against my own. It’s not a highly unusual word so it’s not necessarily peculiar or mysterious that it should appear within my reading, but the word juts out of a sentence as if I were wearing 3D glasses. This time it came from a blog written by Bruce Reyes-Chow, the moderator of PCUSA. In his first six months he has tried different forums and methodology to ensure voices have a place to be heard. He’s probably been a part of more discussions and heated ideology than I will ever hear in my lifetime, and I appreciate his sacrifice to jump into the fray when he could be home with his girls. Heated arguments have a polar magnetism effect and I am repelled away from them. Raised voices, interrupted sentences, and red cheeks have never swayed me towards a side. Maybe because I have such a hard time making up my mind about something as simple as an ice cream flavor, I find it hard to understand how people can be so sure of their decisions, creating a rigid stance, and feeling adamant that others agree with them. I am a middle dweller and will forever see to the left and to the right of me. (Isn’t that one of our first life lessons as we are taught to cross a street? “Look both ways, and look again!”) Bruce talks about a vertical middle way, not one yielded from apathy or resignation in a lateral move between the two sides.

I would like to think there is this Middle Way, a place where a great number of our people do not simply succumb to a particular posture, but embrace it. And while the existence of the Middle Way need not be proved to me per se, I know I am not the only one that struggles with the idea, reality and/or efficacy of the Middle Way. The Middle place I yearn for though is not one that is borne out of our weariness of the discussion; it is borne out of a discovery of larger common understanding of our Reformed faith that remains healthy, prophetic, compassionate and faithful.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You stand in the center of love and reach out to us from all sides, gathering us towards you. Let us be drawn together instead of becoming islands of principles; inhabitants in isolation and distance. Give us patience when ideas become crowded and create respect for those surrounding us. Let us pay attention for commonalities that will surface when two or more meet and offer thanksgivings for these bonds with our brothers and sisters. At our core, we love you, and want to honor you. Help us to live in the center of your will. Amen.

* Farmers from rural Texas, say that the phrase "Fair to Midland" actually expresses "good, clear, great, as in clear skies and weather," not "so-so." They say it originally meant, "The weather is so nice and clear you can see all the way from here to Midland" (Midland, Texas, that is).