Is There Something In-Between?: A Collection of Meditations, Devotions, Prose Poetry, Inspirational Messages and Short Essays

By Ellen Arneatha Verdia Young Fizer

As we travel through life, we often have compelling and intriguing questions that we may or may not be able to find answers. However, we continue to search for the truth. Is there Something In-Between? is Ellen Young Fizer’s search for some of those truths and some lessons she has learned in seeking these truths. Through her collection of meditations, devotions. prose poetry, inspirational messages and short essays, which she has written over nearly a fifty-year time span, Ms. Fizer shares some inspirational, thought provoking and sometimes humorous life experiences. You will enjoy her spiritual journey and her incessant search for the truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781663234841

Ellen Arneatha Verdia Young Fizer

ELLEN A. V. YOUNG FIZER is a retired human resources administrator and educator. She has spent most of her adult life writing poetry, prose and short inspirational messages. Her first book, And He Did Have Something to Say, is her memoir growing up as a Preacher’s Kid (PK) and a tribute to her late father, Rev. Rufus K. Young, Sr. Ellen Young Fizer lives in the Washington, DC area.

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Copyright © 2022 Ellen Arneatha Verdia Young Fizer.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

All illustrations, including the cover, are by Omavi Keahi Fizer, grandson of the author.

All scripture references are from the New International Version (NIV) translation unless otherwise noted.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3485-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3484-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022902266

iUniverse rev. date: 02/15/2022

Contents

Dedication

Introduction

LESSONS LEARNED

Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Pre-Kindergaten

The Meaning of Contentment

Sometimes You Have to Eat Liver

GOD IS

God is Love

God is Good

Who is God?

ON AGING

Aging Gracefully

Looking Back And Wondering How I Got Over

Reflections – The Seniors’ Perspective

I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired

An Old-Fashion Testimony

ON GIVING

You Can’t Beat God’s Giving

Why We Give

Gimme

VIRTUES

Patience

Responsibility

Hospitality

Wisdom

THE STRUGGLE

The Struggle Continues

A Bicentennial Tribute

Sometimes I Find Myself Asking Why?

Fight!

I’ve Got to Run This Race

RELATIONSHIPS

Marriage and God

Family

YOUR CALLING

What is Your Calling?

SOMETHING IN-BETWEEN

Is There Something In-Between?

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Dedication

To my family, who are the inspiration for all that I do – my husband, daughters, grandsons, and siblings. May you always find joy, peace and happiness. To our ancestors who have gone on before us; may you continue to watch over us and may we continue to learn and grow from the examples you provided.

Also, to the teachers and members of the Young Adult Church School Class of Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, in Washington, DC, who were the inspiration for several of the pieces in this book. God gave us a mind to think – use it. Explore the impossible, question what you do not understand, and continue to seek the truth.

Introduction

In between birth and death, there is something called life. And there is something very funny about this thing called life. When you are born, you are blessed if you have parents/guardians that love and care about you; and try to teach you all the right things you need to know to survive this game of life. And, if you are really lucky, most of what you learn sticks with you and you are able to appropriately apply it as you go through life.

However, no matter what your upbringing may have been, we are always in search of something. In between birth and death, we are constantly seeking the true meaning of life and where we fit; if we fit at all. We struggle to find happiness and contentment. We struggle to achieve professionally and personally. We pray that we find someone to love and that they will love us in return. We appear to be in a constant search of the unknown.

I grew up as a PK (Preacher’s Kid), and have been going to church all of my life. I’ve done more than just go to church, but consider myself to be an active member involved in the life of the church. As a young person, I participated in all church youth activities and in most cases served in a leadership capacity. I have taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School; am currently active in many church ministries; have served as the director of Christian Education at my local church for over a decade; and have served for almost two decades as a Senior Steward, which is a pastoral appointment. The Steward Board is one of the main leadership components of my church. I have served on the Potomac District Church School Council for over forty years and chair the Scholarship Committee. So, my religious journey has been a long one. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions; to many foggy or confusing ideas and concepts.

One lesson my father taught me very early on was to question anything I did not understand. And even though I may not get a clear answer the first time, I should continue to seek the truth. Life teaches you many lessons. Some are worth knowing and holding on to for the rest of your life. Others, you wish had never become a part of your life. Nevertheless, you learned something from that experience; if nothing more than to never do or say that again; or trust that person again.

This book is a collection of some of my thoughts and beliefs, my truths, as I have travelled the road of life – looking and searching. I have not presented my thoughts in any type of chronological order, but rather I have organized them by the various topics and ideas that have interested me over the years, and to which I have been seeking answers. In many instances, I have provided biblical references that have helped me in my journey. I hope they will be helpful to you.

One day I was searching, looking all around

I found myself lost, perhaps never to be found.

I looked to the left, and then to the right,

Hoping and praying with all my might.

Let me find the answers I so desperately need,

What were the warning signs I did not heed?

Where did I go wrong? How did I lose my way?

I thought I had it all just the other day!

What was I searching for? What could it be?

Am I lost to world, or only just to me?

Here am I standing in this space in-between,

Still hoping and praying just to be seen.

Then I looked upward to see what I could see.

And there it was right in front of me.

I lifted my hands upward to skies above,

And I saw and felt the light that was full of love.

What could it be? This feeling is beyond compare.

And the realization was almost more than I could bear.

For here I stood, somewhere in-between, neither here nor there.

And all I could do was fall on my knees in prayer.

Thank you, God for being in-between with me,

For it’s all I need to be in harmony with Thee!

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Lessons Learned

Illustration1.jpg

Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Pre-Kindergaten

During the 2020-2021 school year, during the pandemic and virtual learning, every weekday I could be found in one corner of my family room, sitting beside a small table, on which sat my four-year-old grandson’s tablet, which had been issued by the county school district. My grandson sat in his small chair and starred at the screen. Behind him was a makeshift classroom setting, which was constructed by his mother. His classroom backdrop consisted of large alphabets, a calendar, shapes, colors, and numbers. Everything you would expect to see in a Pre-K classroom. After all, his mother is a kindergarten teacher with the same school district, so my grandson’s classroom area looked very authentic.

Five days a week I sat in an armchair next to