How many of us have not imagined how we might simultaneously be in two places? 

In my favorite chapter “Upstairs and Downstairs,” in Arnold Lobel’s treasure of a book, Owl at Home, endearing Owl struggles to accept the limitation of only being in one location at a time. 

When Owl was downstairs he said, “I wonder how my upstairs is?” When Owl was upstairs he said, “I wonder how my downstairs is getting along? I am always missing one place or the other. There must be a way,” said Owl, “to be upstairs and to be downstairs at the same time.”

Owl tried his best to overcome this challenge. 

“Perhaps if I run very very fast, I can be in both places at once.” Owl ran up the stairs. “I am up,” he said. Owl ran down the stairs. “I am down,” he said. 

Owl ran up and down the stairs faster and faster. “Owl!” he cried. “Are you downstairs?” There was no answer. “No,” said Owl. “I am not downstairs because I am upstairs. I am not running fast enough.”

“Owl!” he shouted. “Are you upstairs?” There was no answer. “No,” said Owl. “I am not upstairs because I am downstairs. I must run even faster.”

“Faster, faster, faster!” cried Owl. Owl ran upstairs and downstairs all evening. But he could not be in both places at once.

Can you relate to Owl’s attempts to overcome the impossible? What has your trying to live in two places at once been like? Eventually, all the effort and exhaustion will bring us, like Owl, to a simple realization:

“When I am up,” said Owl, “I am not down. When I am down I am not up. All I am is very tired!” Owl sat down to rest. He sat on the tenth step because it was a place that was right in the middle.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could all join Owl together on that middle step, to set down our longings and frustrations, and to find rest in our acceptance of where we are (and aren’t)?

My own envisioned “middle step” is on an international flight, gazing out over the Pacific Ocean. Where is your place in the middle?   

My prayer is that no matter where you are, or where you wish you could be, you may always remember: 

“God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19)