The Balance in Life

"Excess is the devil's playground." ... copied


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For some years, I hated the thought of having balance in life. I believed one should have passion in all areas and any talk about balance was an excuse for wimpy, mediocre people who didn't care if they were forgotten after they died.

Oh brother.

Now, years later, I love balance. I seek it, crave it and try to walk with it on that great tightrope called Life.

I could give some lengthy explanation of just why that's so, but I'll give examples of what I mean, instead.

Eating healthy food is a wonderful idea, but eating too much healthy food will still make me fat.

Getting enough rest is vital to my well-being, but laying around like a slug 24/7 could eventually kill me.

Exercise is necessary to stay healthy, but too much exercise could not only lead to injuries, but to an unhealthy obsession and a whole list of physical/mental/emotional dangers.

Caring for others--as a doctor or pastor or missionary or volunteer--is terrific, but a frenzied, always-on-call lifestyle can lead to breakdowns, illness or even early death (and how many people can you help when you're dead?).

Caring for one's own children is holy and right, but when done to the point of neglecting one's spouse, can lead to discord, divorce and myriad emotional problems in the children and all involved.

There is cleaning a house all the time and there'a letting it go and living in clutter and frustration. There's being obsessed with working and making money or hating to work and making no money. And there is balance.

Putting God first is a holy thing, but when taken to extremes (and not led by God's own wisdom) can lead to destruction of families with far-reaching emotional damages and basically, can crank out yet more 'Christian flakes' of whom it can be said, "They were too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good."

And well, the list goes on.

Passion is marvelous, but only when led by wisdom,balance and God's ways. His ideas lead us to our best life, the one He meant us to have and even if we had 7 or 8 lifetimes we could never come up with a better plan. Never. It's only pride which ever tries.




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"Be well balanced for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion seeking someone to seize upon and devour." ... I Peter 5:7

Letting go helps us to to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations that do not belong to us. This frees us from unnecessary stress.

Melody Beattie

Too much of a good thing is a good thing no longer.