Mind the Gap
Signs in the London underground subway system warn travelers of the dangerous gap of space between the train and the platform that can cause injury if one does not pay attention.
A voice comes over the loudspeaker just as the doors of the London underground ready to open. Passengers push to off load. Those waiting on the platform push to on load. A proper English voice comes blaring out above the den -”Mind the Gap…mind the gap” asking all the travelers to give attention to the space between the edge of the train car and the edge of the platform.
Signs in the London underground subway system warn travelers of the dangerous gap of space between the train and the platform that can cause injury if one does not pay attention.
A voice comes over the loudspeaker just as the doors of the London underground ready to open. Passengers push to off load. Those waiting on the platform push to on load. A proper English voice comes blaring out above the den -”Mind the Gap…mind the gap” asking all the travelers to give attention to the space between the edge of the train car and the edge of the platform.
Each time I stand in that spot, I try not to look down and let my imagination run wild. What if I tripped? What if I got my foot caught and actually slid into the gap and on to the train tracks? Who would be there to help me?
The loudspeaker reminder rings in my ears.
“Mind the gap” –isn’t this what we are asked to do in Proverbs 4:23-27?
“Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.”
Being spiritually formed into the image of Christ includes narrowing the gap between what you know and what you practice; between living authentically out of who Christ created you to be and fraudulently trying to be what you are not; between allowing the love of God to embrace you and resisting, thinking you know best what you need.
Our creator, our loving Father asks us to mind the gap and pay attention to Him. When we get stuck or trip, he invites us to return as the prodigal did in Luke 15 to His strong, forgiving embrace.
He is the one who is there to help me when I get caught in the gap, stumble and fall. Each tripping up in the gap is an invitation to run back into His presence.
How is it for you in the gaps?
Gail Seidel
Gail Seidel served as Mentor Advisor for Spiritual Formation in the Department of Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and as an Adjunct Professor in the D Min in Spiritual Formation in the D Min Department at Dallas Theological Seminary. She has a BA in English from the University of Texas, a Masters in Christian Education from Dallas Seminary and a D Min in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is a contributor to the textbook, Foundations of Spiritual Formation, Kregel Academic. She served as co-director for Christian Women in Partnership Russia with Entrust, an international church leadership-training mission. She and her husband Andy live in Fredericksburg, Texas. They have 2 married children and 6 wonderful grandchildren--Kami, Kourtney, Katie, Mallory, Grayson, and Avery.
