It finally happened. I stood in “the middle of nowhere” last week.
That is correct. I was in the middle of NOWHERE. There was nothing on the horizon in any direction.
Growing up, I often heard my mother utter the phrase, “This feels like we are in the middle of NOWHERE.” That observation usually took place while Dad was driving us somewhere.
I recall the fear of being forever lost when Mom spoke those words, “the middle of NOWHERE.” I admit I never felt whatever she was feeling. I just remember it never sounded like a compliment to Dad’s navigational skills.
The directional assistance of computer-generated Siri had not been invented yet. Our family had a dad who followed his instincts rather than stopping to ask someone for directions. We also had Mom and a map she could not read.
I do think this current generational Siri could possibly have been influenced by my mom’s spirit. Siri is never without an opinion, never wrong, and never silent. I rest my case.
I did not need Mom to tell me this place felt like the middle of NOWHERE. Even Siri did not KNOW WHERE we were.
To circumvent winter storm travel problems, I chose an unfamiliar route. I tell this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence. I came to where two roads diverged. I took the one less traveled. Yes, Robert Frost, it made all the difference.
I was somewhere beyond the Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado observational posts. The location did not show up on any Google map.
“NOWHERE” supposedly represents a place that does not exist or is not readily identifiable.
The middle of NOWHERE” is an idiom description of a completely isolated location, far away from any people, towns, or structures. This place fulfilled all those measurements. It definitely existed and would never be identifiable as anywhere else than NOWHERE.
I can assure you that NOWHERE is not in the proximity of Somewhere and cannot be seen from Anywhere. Neither is NOWHERE considered part of Everywhere. In fact, that would be a contradiction. NOWHERE and Everywhere cannot coexist.
All that uncertainty contributes to the dilemma of how one can KNOW WHERE NOWHERE begins or ends. I did not have Mom’s feeling of Nowhereville; but I could not see anywhere else.
It was NOWHERE to the North and East. The South offered no escape from NOWHERE. The West had all the signs that I was definitely in the middle of NOWHERE.
Suddenly, a tumbleweed appeared out of NOWHERE as it rolled through the wind. Just as quickly, the tumbleweed was gone, NOWHERE to be seen.
This remote wasteland had no human habitation and no infrastructure. Every direction was flat. There were no animals or vegetation other than dead weeds. This was just a vast open space… a wilderness.
There was one exception.
Nothing was in sight except a distant small bush. I moved close enough to confirm it was not a burning bush. So, I did not take off my shoes.
Have you ever had a thought come out of NOWHERE? I found the place it came from. I was finally there.
I thought this area certainly did not look like Paradise, but I have never been there either. Suddenly the music from Joni Mitchell came out of NOWHERE.
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
I did not see a paved parking lot. However, I did wonder if that small green growth in the middle of NOWHERE might be the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Everything about it signaled, “Do not touch.”
No thank you, Eve. I will just look and not eat…even though that might be the only way to get kicked out of this NOWHERE land.
There were no signs designating this location as the middle of NOWHERE and I cannot tell you how I got to NOWHERE.
However, there was no doubt I was there. If you ever end up in the middle of NOWHERE, I am certain you will KNOW WHERE you are.
I remember the time I questioned one of my teenagers where he was going. As the door closed, his answer was short and simple, “Probably Nowhere.”
When he returned home, I asked where he had been. He shrugged and mumbled, “Nowhere really.”
I asked if he had a good time to which he responded, “Yeah, it was ok.”
I said, “Well that is good because you are going NOWHERE for the next week. That way I will KNOW WHERE you are and that you are having fun.”
Things ended far worse for Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, when he falsely claimed he “had been NOWHERE.” His resulting leprosy lasted more than a week (2 Kings 5:25-27).
NOWHERE is a difficult place to describe. It is almost impossible to give directions to the middle of NOWHERE or offer suggestions for an escape.
Just the experience caused the words from the classic song by the Beatles to roll into my mind like a tumbleweed out of NOWHERE.
He’s a real NOWHERE man
Sitting in his NOWHERE land
Making all his NOWHERE plans for nobody
Doesn’t have a point of view
Knows not where he’s going to
Isn’t he a lot like you and me?
I have a couple of questions for anyone still with me. (My mind will not let this go.)
How do you give someone directions to or out of NOWHERE?
Is NOWHERE the farthest place from Somewhere?
Do you have to go to NOWHERE before you have been Everywhere?
This strange location in the middle of NOWHERE was somewhere far beyond the boonies and past the outback. I could see the horizon in every direction with no sight of anyone or any human infrastructure.
How could I call for help when there was no cell service?
I remain quite baffled about my recent experience. NOWHERE is a place that does not exist. So, how did I get to NOWHERE when I was going Somewhere?
I can testify that sadness can come out of NOWHERE. I was happy going somewhere. Now I wondered if I would ever see happiness again.
That sounds like our spiritual journeys. Sometimes that journey feels as if it is going NOWHERE.
Many people do not like where they are physically or spiritually. The sense of some other place or another moment being better can be very strong as they try to get to a better somewhere. They lose their happiness and fear they will never see it again.
Sometimes, our minds feel as if life is stuck in the middle of NOWHERE; but uncertainty or dislike of circumstances are not characteristics of NOWHERE.
Take courage, o my soul. You are never NOWHERE spiritually. That place does not exist.
There is NOWHERE I can be where God is not with me. God is the air I breathe everywhere, anywhere, and even in the middle of NOWHERE.
In spiritual concerns, NOWHERE should be NOW HERE. GOD IS ALWAYS NOW HERE even in the middle of NOWHERE.
Learning to love first and most is part of your spiritual journey with Jesus. Loving is part of being, not doing. Therefore, the journey never ends up NOWHERE.
Whenever you find yourself in the middle of NOWHERE, it is an invitation to get closer to God.
- Remember that Enoch walked with God until he was NOWHERE to be found (Genesis 5:24).
- Moses had NOWHERE that was safe until God opened a way to blessings (Exodus 14:21-22).
- The Israelites learned there was NOWHERE to go but follow God (Joshua 14:9).
- Isaiah discovered there was NOWHERE to rest but with God (Isaiah 32:18).
- Jonah had NOWHERE to run but to God (Jonah 1:1-3).
- David had NOWHERE to stand until God set him on a rock (Psalm 40:1-3).
- When the rich man had NOWHERE to store his crops, he trusted in building bigger barns rather than trusting his life to God (Luke 12:17).
- When Thomas felt stuck in the middle of NOWHERE, Jesus told him and us, “I am the Way…Follow me” (John 14:4-5-6).
I repeat for emphasis. WHENEVER YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, IT IS AN INVITATION TO GET CLOSER TO GOD.
I consider this a great quest for us this year.
My prayer for you and me is taken from Native Americans missionary David Brainard’s New Year’s prayer in 1746.
“O THAT I MIGHT LIVE NEARER TO GOD THIS YEAR THAN I DID THE LAST!”
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 