• About
  • Submissions
  • Store
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Story Warren

Kindling Imagination for Kingdom Anticipation

  • Fostering Imagination
    • Valuing Imagination
    • Parenting
    • Faith & Vision
  • Resources
    • Books
    • Music
    • Movies
    • Interviews
    • Lists
  • Warren & the World
  • For Kids
    • Poems
    • Stories
    • Songs

Battling at the In-Between

November 2, 2015 by Jake Nuckolls 2 Comments

Let’s face it. Things are not as easy as we want them to be. I want to take my kids to the baseball game, but I have to make sure they have sunscreen on, water bottles prepped, a blanket, a chair, enough snacks or enough money to pay for snacks, and so on. It’s not like the “glory days” of college when I could simply wander down to the ballpark in the middle of the day just to catch the third inning on. Oh, and I didn’t care about sunscreen, because I didn’t have to.

There are days as a father that I feel like a failure. Where my meager attempts at parenting not only fall short, but never begin. I scold, I ignore, I am complacent, I am lenient, I long for bedtime. These are my valleys hidden in fog.

There are days that I feel like Superman or Gandalf. I make breakfast, I discipline in love, I bring peace and joy and laughter, I tell stories, I spend time with each child. These are my mountaintops, cloudless, thin-aired joy.

Most days I battle the in-between. The liminal space between the mountaintop and the valley. The days when I get up slowly and drink my coffee in a stupor. When I work well and hard and the paperwork at my office desk dwindles. When I am genuinely relieved to be home with my family. When I snap at my son or daughter, but apologize and wrap them in a bear hug. When I know I should read my bible, but it’s late and SportsCenter is on. When I am given five blessed minutes of silence where my spirit cries out and I listen. When my head hits the pillow and I can say with joy that I spent the energy I had on things that I loved.

I may not have fought with Superman’s perfection, but I gave it my Mr. Incredible best.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jake Nuckolls
Jake Nuckolls
Jake Nuckolls can be found pushing any of his four kids on the swings, hacking back the blackberries getting too close to the chicken coop, and making eyes at his wife.He’s a writer, reader, husband, father, and sometimes musician.
Jake Nuckolls
Latest posts by Jake Nuckolls (see all)
  • The Benefits of Competition - August 15, 2016
  • Battling at the In-Between - November 2, 2015
  • Press Your Love Deep - June 15, 2015

Filed Under: Fostering Imagination

Get Story Warren in Your Inbox

Comments

  1. Glenn McCarty says

    November 2, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    Nice thoughts, Jake! I appreciate the encouragement. I think as a dad, it’s easy to wake up every morning in Conquer the World mode, only to get drained when all the little niggling issues undermine that feeling. I find myself nodding in weary agreement to Jon Foreman’s “Let That Be Enough” many days. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • jake says

      November 2, 2015 at 2:27 pm

      Thanks Glenn. I totally agree. Conquer the world mode is easy to find, easy to lose, and hard not to set as the ultimate goal. Glad we share the God of grace.

      Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Get a Free Audiobook + Story Warren in your Inbox!

Sign up for our weekly Warren & The World and get The Black Star of Kingston audiobook for FREE!

Join us on Facebook

Story Warren
  • Latest Posts
  • Store
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2012 - 2025 Story Warren, LLC · Site by Design by Insight

Copyright © 2025 · Story Warren on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in