Living From the Middle

Discernment, Grace, and the Heart

As I move through life, I’ve learned to keep my yes and my no firmly in place. Discernment has become essential—not as a weapon, but as protection. People will always try to pull me in different directions, yet clarity comes when I remain attentive to the guidance that rises from within.

The source of all action flows from the heart. God is the source of the heart, and it is at this level that life extends beyond time. While the body fades and circumstances shift, the heart remains alive, anchoring consciousness in the present moment. From there, life is lived not in fear of the future or regret of the past, but in awareness and trust.

Extremes have marked my journey. Seasons of success tempted me to move too quickly, while seasons of loss invited withdrawal. Over time, I discovered that growth doesn’t happen at either extreme. It occurs in the middle—the place where obedience, patience, and timing intersect.

I think of it like traveling on a highway. Staying within the flow allows me to move with others rather than against them. Faith is not only about what I believe, but when and how I live it out. Not everyone is ready to hear spiritual truths, and wisdom knows when to speak and when to remain silent. Sometimes a gentle thought is more powerful than a full explanation.

Loss has shaped me deeply. The death of someone I loved at a young age fractured my world, yet from that fracture came unexpected family and deeper compassion. Later, I lost my sense of belonging within the church, carried there by grief and disillusionment. Still, I trust that God continues to bring good from what appears broken.

Self-criticism and skepticism have often served as survival tools. Though imperfect, they protected my heart in environments that might have destroyed me. I left when I needed to, and I went with a blessing. That alone is evidence that grace can emerge even from the most damaging spaces.

I’ve always been independent-minded, resistant to manipulation. Wisdom, I’ve learned, is not given for control but for service. Leadership rooted in grace invites coexistence rather than domination.

Family history carries its own weight—regret, illness, decline, and the misuse of religion. I’ve had to accept a difficult truth: I cannot fix what I did not break. Peace has come through release, not resolution. A smile, a farewell, a greeting when paths cross again. And the freedom to live forward.

Have a blessed day!