A week ago, I accompanied sixteen middle schoolers to Montreat Middle School Conference at Maryville College in Tennessee along with Phae. Chip Bristol and Tom Gilliespie graciously joined us as chaperones, too.
The theme for the conference was “In the Middle of it All.” Through scripture, small group discussions, and worship we were reminded that, in the middle of it all, God welcomes us, God sees us, God is with us, and God sends us. The theme was extraordinarily appropriate for middle schoolers who are in the middle of adolescence, puberty, social dynamics, various family situations, and figuring out just exactly who they are going to be.
I think this theme applies to all of us, though, because no matter our age or stage of life, we are all in the middle of something. You may be in the middle of change, loneliness, grief, anxiety. Perhaps you are in the middle of joy and celebration. Most likely, you are in the middle of many things all at once!
Our country and our world are certainly in the middle of divisiveness, strife, and uncertainty.
We all need to be reminded that, in the middle of it all – whatever “all” may be for you – God welcomes us, sees us, and is with us. God sends us to be bearers of light and love.
So, I’ll leave you with some words from the Middle School Conference theme song:
In your chaos and your calm,
In your two steps forward and one step back
Surrounded or alone,
Even when you are far from home
From the start to the end, and in the middle of it all . . .
There will be times when you’re lost or tired
There will be times you wish would never end
God is there in your beauty and your mess
So don’t you fear ‘cause you’re never alone
From the start to the end, and in the middle of it all . . .
God is the one who sees you,
The one who is with you,
The one who knows you,
The one who sends you
From the start to the end, and in the middle of it all . . .
~Written by Steven Hall (Montreat Middle School Conference Music Leader, 2024)
