the inspiration behind the phrase

...is a warning to train passengers to remind them of the sometimes significant gap between the train door and the station platform. It was first introduced in 1969 by the London Underground rapid transit system.

Some station platforms on the London Underground are curved. Since the cars are straight, the distance from the platform to the car at certain points is greater than normal, and the phrase "mind the gap" is painted in capital letters along the edge of such platforms. A recorded announcement is also played whenever a train arrives at a station, consisting of "mind the gap" repeated several times. (Wikipedia)

Not too long ago, Jim Peters shared with us something that he learned, where "mind the gap" becomes a metaphor for the gap between our authentic self and the self that we put on the platform for others to see. It is in that gap that we can hide what is really going on and come to believe that that self on the platform is who we really are. It may be who we want to be, but if we are not mindful of that gap we are at risk of falling prey to the many temptations that will come our way. So, in short, to become who we are created to be, we must mind the gap. Just as with the trains, we may never be able to completely close that gap - but it is there and could be harmful nonetheless. Gene has a whole series of talks on this. So, right now you are either thinking "I would like to hear more." or "What Gene did in a series of 45min. talks, she did in a paragraph."

Needless to say, after Jim's words to us that day in Indianapolis, after a summer of Gene giving talks in churches based on this "mind the gap" warning, along with another "mentor" of mine (regretfully I have never actually met him), author Parker Palmer speaking of a "tragic gap"... this phrase has taken on a life of meaning.

This phrase has come to be not only a metaphor for authenitic living personally but also in the Kingdom. As we develop relationships with the people in our community - in the marketplace and the neighborhoods - we are finding another tragic gap. The gap between the Kingdom of God and a population of people who are becoming more prominent in our culture - the "cultural creatives". This is a whole people group who if they do not know Jesus presently, they are spiritual seekers who are no longer listening to the church as a valid voice in their search. We love the way these friends think and agree with many of the values they hold dear. We, as Christ followers, also think that if they really understood the Kingdom of God and all that Jesus taught us, they would find what they are looking for.

Paul had a similar experience in "minding the gap", we read about it in Act 17.

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

So, we live our lives in our "Athens" and get to meet the people of our "Areopagus" we are compelled to proclaim to them the good news of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom that is full of love and peace. A Kingdom that has the power to restore the planet. A Kingdom that brings life where there is death, healing where there is sickness, substance where there is famine.
Mind the Gap.