Mind the Gap

If you ride the subway system in NYC or in London, probably the El in Chicago as well, an automated voice will warn passengers, "Mind the Gap."  Mind the gap between the train and the platform or else you may stumble in the gap and end up hurt.

Last time I was in the City and hearing the reminders about the gap it stuck with me but not in the literal sense. It pricked my awareness in the figurative, of course.

"Mind the Gap Beth."

Mind the Gap.

Mind the gap between pride and humility.
Mind the gap between confidence and complacency.
Mind the gap between fear of man and fear of God.
Mind the gap between entitlement and contentment.
Mind the gap between bearing and enabling.
Mind the gap between legalism and grace.
Mind the gap between forgiveness and grudges.

Mind the Gap.

When I don't mind the gap, I step into that in-between space and stumble. Sometimes I can recover from the stumble without any damage being done, other times damage happens and then I have to deal with the aftershocks of it. And dealing with the damage a stumble can cause is always painful - to me personally and sometimes, more often that not, to people around me. Being negligent around the gap causes a ripple effect. When I stumble and fall I rarely take only myself down, others go with me. But when I'm mindful it means that not only am I looking out for myself, I'm looking out for others.

What kind of gaps do you need to be mindful of in this life?  I've listed a few that I think all people can relate to. Perhaps there are personal ones as well, there are for me. Let's all help each other and mind the gap.