Good Read: The In-Between by Jeff Goins

I recently finished reading The In-Between — Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing by Jeff Goins.  This was a good read!  This book is a timely reminder to slow down and enjoy the perfect moments in life that otherwise go unnoticed.  A few of my favorite quotes from this book are below.

“Maybe our disappointments aren’t missed appointments at all.  Maybe they’re calls to patience, or simply signs of a change to come.  When we lose a dream, it may be more than a loss.  It may be a gain of something we never expected or understood.  So perhaps the fact that life doesn’t always turn out the way we’d hoped is a blessing, not a curse — if we have eyes to see it.”

“We are all waiting for something.  And in that wait, there is a necessary tension, even a frustration, that doesn’t fully resolve.  This doesn’t mean some things aren’t worth waiting for.  It just means we don’t always get what we want, and rarely does it come all at once.  Believe it or not, this is a good thing.  Just like the delayed gratification between Christmas and Epiphany, we need to understand that the wait sometimes is essential to appreciate the gifts that follow, no matter how much we may resent the process.  So through the angst and anticipation, in our longing to have and be more, we need to learn to enjoy this place.”

We go through life, dashing from moment to moment, all the while missing little glories in the middle.  Goins refers to those parts of life as “The In-Between,” the title of his this book.

Goins writes, “Waiting is the great grace.  It’s a subtle sign for those with eyes to see, reminding us there is work yet to be done–not just around us, but in us.”  Waiting requires slowing down and stopping, taking the time to examine our inner selves, and allowing for the development of that third eye, the one that reads between the lines and sees the value in the small things.

Thus, some simple themes that I took away from reading this book are to:

• Slow Down
• Let Go
• Be Grateful

In this season of waiting, consider adding this excellent read to your reading shelf or for someone on your holiday list.  And blessings to you in your wait!

Happy Wednesday!