The Pendulum’s Heartbeat: Finding Space in the Middle When the World Swings Wild

There are days when life feels like one massive pendulum—just swinging hard, back and forth, slamming everything in its path. Politics. Religion. Culture. Even personal relationships. It’s like we’re all being told to pick a side, and if you don’t, well… then maybe you’re the target.

Honestly? Lately, I feel like one of those little metal balls in the middle, getting hammered from both directions. Not because I’m unsure or wishy-washy, but because I’m just trying to stay present in the tension. To listen. To hold space. To not immediately label someone or jump to conclusions based on a headline or hashtag. The impacts come from every direction, demanding that we abandon our position and align with one extreme or the other.

But holding that space? It’s exhausting. It takes energy to not be swept up in the momentum of outrage, to resist the pull toward comfort in certainty. That tightrope act of trying to live with empathy when everything around you says, “Choose your camp. Speak your allegiance. Or stay silent and risk being misunderstood.” This constant push and pull creates an undeniable state of stress and exhaustion. It’s like trying to stay balanced on a tightrope that's perpetually swinging—the energy required just to remain upright is immense. And unlike a mechanical pendulum, life's swings are unpredictable, making it even harder to anticipate and brace for the next impact.

Staying in the middle isn’t about being neutral. It’s not indifference. It’s intentional. It’s choosing to look someone in the eye and say, “Tell me your story,” instead of assigning them a label and moving on. It’s asking, “What led you to see the world this way?” even if their answer rubs against everything you believe. 

But let’s be real—this kind of openness isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s scary. Sometimes it feels like I’m betraying my own convictions just by being curious about someone else’s. Other times it’s straight up fatigue. The emotional energy it takes to process and empathize when the world stage seems to only communicate in extremes.  It’s a lot.

And yet… that’s where I think the good stuff lives. The real human connection. The healing. The kind of understanding that doesn’t mean we all agree but means we start to see each other again—not as caricatures or categories, but as whole people. (But only if both parties are willing to engage. We need to all seek that practice by the way. It’s the only way we can even begin this worthy practice). 

Perhaps the goal isn’t to stop the pendulum. Maybe it’s to stop letting it define how we engage. Maybe it’s about finding a rhythm in the chaos, a way to be grounded even when things swing hard. As someone who seeks the model of Christ, we're called to a radical way of living that transcends earthly divisions. It’s a higher calling. It’s super natural…Not natural. Not human, but Holy Spirit. 

I certainly don’t have the answers, but I do know this: I want to keep standing in that middle space, even if it’s challenging. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Because we know that’s where Jesus is—right there, holding tension with grace, not flinching from either side, but leaning in with love to see their heart and their brokenness. 

Consider these words to guide us:

Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." This isn't about avoiding conflict, but actively seeking understanding and reconciliation amidst discord.

Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse reminds us of the profound unity that underlies all our differences. It’s a call to see beyond the labels that divide us. We are all one humanity. 

John 13:34: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." This fundamental instruction from Jesus compels us to extend grace and understanding even when it's difficult.

Remember this truth: ANY who call on Him will be set free…

-from prejudice

-from judgment

-from your brokenness 

-from your pride 

What about you? Do you feel the pendulum swing in your own life? What does it look like for you to stay grounded in the middle? Share your experiences in the comments below.