Stuck in the Middle with You: Holding Your Peace in a World Full of Jokers and Clowns

“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you…”
- Stealers Wheel

It’s a catchy line. One of those 70s lyrics that sticks in your head long after the song fades. But the more life you live, the more that line starts to feel less like a pop melody and more like a personal mantra - especially when the noise of the world tries to split you down the middle.

Clowns and jokers. Drama and distraction. The ones who entertain and the ones who agitate. And there you are - trying to hold your center, trying to stay anchored, trying to keep your peace.

I know the feeling.

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The Post Office Parade

Running a post office might sound like a quiet, humble profession - but let me tell you, it’s a front-row seat to a never-ending circus. Among the kind-hearted regulars and the lovely elderly folk who come in just to chat, there’s always that one person.

In my case, he enters with an energy that could part clouds. No matter the time of day, his arrival is a performance - loud voice, grand gestures, all designed to seize the room. He commands attention, not because he has something meaningful to say, but because the silence unsettles him. And when there are other customers around? Even better for his ego. Their discomfort is merely a stage prop in his one-man show.

But here’s the thing: I’ve learned to ignore him. Prayerfully. Intentionally. Without bitterness, but with boundary. Because what I’ve come to realise is that my peace - that quiet sacred thing I protect each morning in solitude - is far too valuable to surrender to the whims of someone else's need for control.

And yet, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t annoying. Especially when his noise begins to chip away at the atmosphere I’ve tried to cultivate. When he starts to interrupt not just my focus, but the quiet of others who never asked to be part of his act.

Still, I’ve chosen the middle. The sacred middle. Not the clown’s chaos. Not the joker’s games. Just the stillness where Christ resides.

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The Sacred Middle Ground

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
- John 14:27

Jesus didn’t promise a life without noise. He promised peace within it. A different kind of peace - one that doesn’t depend on silence around you, but stillness within you.

This is the middle ground we fight to hold. The place between reaction and retreat. Between biting back and giving in. It’s where you learn to smile gently at the chaos and say, “Not today. My peace is not for sale.”

This isn’t weakness - it’s wisdom. It’s spiritual maturity in action. It’s Isaiah 30:15 come to life:
“In quietness and trust is your strength.”

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Lessons from the Circus

Life will always have its clowns and jokers. They show up in workplaces, churches, families, friendships, and even in our own thought patterns. They perform loudly to draw us in, to distract, to dominate. And many times, we’re tempted to engage - to give them what they want: our reaction, our energy, our peace.

But you don’t have to.

You can learn, like I’ve had to, that your stillness is a form of resistance. Your quietness is power. Choosing not to clap for the performance is often the most powerful statement you can make.

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When Attention Is a Drug

The man in the post office? He’s not alone. Our culture is full of people addicted to attention. The more chaotic the world gets, the louder some become. But attention-seeking is often a mask - beneath it is insecurity, fear, a desperate need to feel seen.

We don’t need to play into it. We don’t need to be drawn into other people’s unresolved dramas. Our call is not to fix every loud person, but to protect the quiet whisper of the Spirit within us.

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Holding Your Peace

So what do you do when you’re stuck in the middle?

You stay there. Not frozen. Not afraid. But grounded. Anchored. Rooted in scripture. Fortified by affirmations. Strengthened by truth.

Here are a few I carry with me:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1
Affirmation: I am not alone. God is my calm in the chaos.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
Affirmation: I do not need to react. I stand still, and I know He is in control.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” – Isaiah 54:17
Affirmation: I walk in peace and power. No noise, no drama, no clown act can prosper against me.

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Final Whisper

So if you feel stuck in the middle, take heart. It’s not weakness - it’s wisdom. It’s not indecision - it’s discernment. It’s not passivity - it’s peace.

Let the jokers and clowns perform.
Let them jostle for attention.
You, my friend - you stay in the middle.

Not stuck.
Set apart.

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From My Desk to Yours

I’ve worked in places where the noise was constant - behind counters, in community halls, housing offices, charity hubs, aeroplane aisles, church pulpits, and now back at the post office. What I’ve learned is this: inner peace is not something you find once - it’s something you fight to protect daily.

Thanks for journeying with me through this reflection. May you find your sacred center, even in a world that thrives on performance and noise.

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Let’s Talk

Have you ever felt “stuck in the middle” in your work, home, or spiritual life?
How do you guard your peace when others demand your energy?

Hit reply or share your story in the comments below. I read every one.

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Stay grounded, stay gracious, and above all, stay in the sacred middle.
Until next time,
James