Before the days of mandatory car seats and vehicles with air conditioning, I usually found myself in the middle seat, between my 2 older sisters. Recently, I was forced to take the only empty seat on an airplane, traveling from Chicago to Los Angelos for 4 hours with 2 strangers. Whether as a child or adult, being caught in between can be unsettling. Yet, while in this position, you have the ability to influence others.
After serving 6 years on a church board, I realized that I was sitting in the middle pew, between the shepherd and his sheep. John 10:1-5. Unfortunately, I lost sight of the role God had placed me in. A similar fate spread to most of the other elders, who wilted when the going got tough. Although I thought I had done what I could, hindsight has revealed I should have been more proactive in protecting God’s flock.
From a modern perspective, the man and or woman in the middle has a great opportunity to sway others toward their worldview. When a leader seizes the moment, their witness, good or bad, can mold, shape and transform innocent bystanders, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12. By rubbing off on those whom you encounter, you have the power to Leave Jesus as portrayed in Send the Beggar’s song on their Closer to Complete album. Therefore, if you want to leave your mark on this generation, don’t let the sun go down until you have maximized each moment you find yourself sitting in the middle seat.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 