The Messy Middle

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3 headlines you might have missed

The headlines of late are sobering and saddening.

And though certainly worthy of being given space and time and attention and prayers, they are not the only news.

I repeat. THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY NEWS. I don’t want to be the kind of person who lives in denial of the pain and suffering around me. But I also fear we (at least ‘we’  Americans) are so prone to dichotomist thinking that we don’t make enough space to hold more than one truth. The world is either a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad place OR it is a all rainbows and kittens.

Living in the messy middle is about being able to name the pain and suffering and look for ways to help AND being able to name the joys and successes and look for ways to enjoy life.

You know the headlines that crossed your path this week, but they were not the complete truth. Here are a few you might have missed.

3 headlines

Grandma uses chocolate therapy to help wilted child

Every day this week Grandma picked up Niece #1 from a long day of band camp (!!! a real editor would remove those). Niece #1 was greeted with two small pieces of chocolate and an adult who looked for small ways to validated her day and add a few laughs on the drive home.

In other news, and better yet, a variation of this happened again and again. At sports  and band camps, caring adults encouraged and invested in kids.

Sisters prepare future 1st Grader

Niece #4 started first grade this week, bringing the joy known as school lunch! She loves talking and is easily distractible so much discussion has occurred with older sisters wondering what lunch time would be like for her. This week, #2 and #3 packed a lunch that would be exactly like the ones she’ll eat during the school year, gave her 20 minutes to consume it, and timed her.

They were happy to report she came in under time! May this predict a good first grade year for her and millions of others.

Strangers nice on an airplane

Two people who appeared not to know each other joked as they boarded a crowded plane. The line was long and the jetway hot, yet they were friendly. It was reported that later when they saw each other in the post flight bathroom break on the way to luggage they greeted each other with fondness and even a bit of travel humor.

We hear about the few really ugly fliers, can you imagine the joy we’d experience if every single time two people were kind to each other?

******

There are other headlines in our lives too (Memorial Service to be held for Peter). but if all we share are these kind of headlines, it’s not a balanced diet for our souls. If there is anything we learn from hanging around Jesus in the Gospels, it’s that he dined from all tables and didn’t fed himself with just one kind of food. Our minds and souls need to be fed a balanced diet too.

Please share a headline from your week in the comments and help to feed my soul :) — all headlines welcome! (Ok, most, welcome :))

Photo credit Luc de Leeuw via flickr

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26 Comments August 15, 2014

About Amy

My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet.

Comments

  1. Amy L. (formerly F.) ^_^ says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:29 am

    Woman survives encounter with badger only to trip later (of her own klutzy doing) and bash knee

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 15, 2014 at 6:51 am

      Badger?! And then bashed knee?! Does woman need some chocolate therapy?

      Reply
  2. Kelly says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:44 am

    4 year old discovers misprinted “upside down i” is actually exclamation mark!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 15, 2014 at 6:50 am

      This would brighten so many if it WERE in the news! I know I’ll chuckle occasionally because of this headline today :).

      Reply
  3. Michelle Haseltine says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:48 am

    You’ve inspired me!!! Hmmm, a headline from my week?!?! Teacher Wrings Relaxation from Final Summer Days. (This is kind of fun!! I’m going to keep playing with this idea. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Michelle Haseltine says

      August 15, 2014 at 6:51 am

      Better….Teacher Wrangles Relaxation From Final Summer Days!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        August 15, 2014 at 9:17 am

        Isn’t “wrangles” just a fun verb! Enjoy these days of wrangling!

        Reply
  4. Kristy Zink says

    August 15, 2014 at 7:04 am

    12 Year Old Girls Goes to Junior High Nervous. Comes out of School with Smile on Face!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 15, 2014 at 9:17 am

      I love it! AND so glad for her! (and her mama!)

      Reply
  5. Laura Connell says

    August 15, 2014 at 7:09 am

    Now, this is my kind of news. If news were more like this I’d read/watch it more often.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 15, 2014 at 9:18 am

      Agreed! I really don’t watch the news that much any more and sometimes feel rather uninformed, but mostly just feel less annoyed with the world :)

      Reply
  6. Jen says

    August 15, 2014 at 8:58 am

    Couple blessed with suprise fifth boy given crib, bassinet & other vital baby items. Hope for all his little needs being met flourishes.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      Hopefully you’ll have more headlines like this!

      Reply
  7. Mike says

    August 15, 2014 at 9:33 am

    “Son gets the joy of helping his father prepare his LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) for flight, including sitting in the cockpit and starting the engine.”

    I’m the son! :-)

    Reply
    • Marsha C says

      August 18, 2014 at 11:24 am

      Awesome! Can’t imagine the adrenaline rush!

      Reply
    • Amy says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:17 pm

      So, so, so cool!!!

      Reply
  8. Amanda says

    August 15, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    2 year old nephew and 33 year old auntie BOTH discover they love the BIG slide at the park!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:14 pm

      And a good time was had by all!

      Reply
  9. Denise says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    Air pollution index in my city under 100 all week!
    (My city’s air pollution always gets a bad rap)

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:15 pm

      And all the residents were able to give a bit WHOOP because their lungs were a bit clearer :)

      Reply
  10. Allison Sweatman says

    August 18, 2014 at 12:11 am

    CHINA: Foreigner attempts to order first milk tea of life, to no avail

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:16 pm

      :( … sorry! Hopefully better results next time!

      Reply
  11. Marsha C says

    August 18, 2014 at 11:18 am

    Grandpuppy comes to visit and makes facetime-ing with 3 year old grandson a fun change from just looking at old grammy and pap. In other related news, only one puppy mistake to clean up!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:19 pm

      Yippee on both fronts!!!

      Reply
  12. Sarah S says

    August 18, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Crisis averted: Homemade brownies save the day when chocolate stash is depleted.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:20 pm

      Whew :)!!

      Reply

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