The Meantime

What You Do While You Wait Matters

There’s this phrase that’s been sitting heavy on my heart lately: “in the meantime.”

When you hear it, you might think of the space between events or the gap between appointments, the downtime before what’s next. But I’ve been thinking about the spiritual meantime. You know, that season between where you are and where you want to be.

And here’s the thing:
​Every man lives in a meantime season.

Especially young men in their early 20s.

Because generally, life at that stage tends to revolve around two predictable rhythms:
​school or work and leisure.

You’re either on the grind (classes, deadlines, clock-ins, and paychecks) or you’re unplugging, gaming, hanging with friends, scrolling, or taking that much-needed downtime.

And neither of those things are wrong.
But when life becomes only about performance (how well you do) and pleasure (how much you enjoy), something dangerous begins to form.

You start living a life that’s quietly centered on you.

Performance and pleasure alone lead to selfishness.​
It’s subtle — but it’s real.

School is about what you can earn.
Work is about what you can make.
And leisure is about what you can enjoy.
But there’s a third “P” that’s missing in that equation — one that brings balance, purpose, and meaning to your life.

That “P” is People.

The Missing Rhythm: People

You weren’t designed to just perform and play.
You were made for people. You were made for connection, community, and contribution.

So if you’re in your 20s, here’s my challenge:
In your meantime, when you’re not at work or in class, and when you’re not just relaxing, go hard after people.

Ask yourself:

• Who am I serving right now?
• Who am I walking through life with?
• Who am I pouring into, and who’s pouring into me?
• How am I growing, not just in skill or success, but in soul and character?

Because you don’t grow into manhood in isolation.
You grow through connection and contribution.

Build a Life Bigger Than You

Young man you were created for more than performance and pleasure.
You were made to build, to serve, to lead, and to love.

When you start anchoring your life around people,
when your downtime becomes serving time,
when your free time becomes growth time,
you start becoming the kind of man the world actually needs.

Not just successful.
But significant.

And this is exactly what the apostle Paul wrote about when he said:

This text captures the call of a godly man. That call is to turn the meantime into a mission field.
To use your waiting season as a shaping season.
To live for something and someone beyond yourself.

Reflection:

To Life On Mission!

DW