“I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more,
together with true knowledge and perfect judgment, so that you will be able to
choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the
Day of Christ.” Philippians 1:9-10
Recently separated from her husband, our daughter moved with
her two sons to an apartment last weekend. The move was necessary but not
something any of them really wanted. Emotional tension stressed all of them.
While Erin hoped to get all the physical stuff done quickly
so she and the boys could begin to establish their new “normal”, it just wasn’t
happening. Weather, work schedules, and a myriad of other unexpected happenings
caused frustrating delays. Along with a mixture of anxiety, determination and defeat,
Erin could feel her impatience rising.
So, rather than continue pushing, and risk losing her temper
(or the boys losing theirs), she went to Walmart and bought a badminton set.
For the next hour, she and the boys occupied one of the nearby tennis courts,
swatting a plastic birdie back and forth. None of them were very good at
it—which made it all the more fun as they laughed and joked over their lack of
skills. It was the best thing she could have done. It brought balance back to
their lives, giving them hope that, amidst this painful season, there could
still be good times.
Isn’t balance what we all need in our lives—to somehow equalize
opposing tendencies? Like a seesaw in a playground, with a child of the same weight
on each side, we must balance work with leisure, personal freedom with
obedience, indulgence with temperance, solitude with community, faith with
works, tradition with relevance, etc. However, reaching that goal can be a
challenge. At times we all feel off-kilter. How do we attain that illusive
balance?
We can start with God’s Word. Scriptures offer guidance on
every topic. Luke 10:38-42 gives us God’s perspective on priorities. James 1:5 is
God’s prescription for gaining wisdom. Mark 12:29-31 offers guidance in how
best to love. Luke 12 provides us with God’s view of earthly possessions. And
those are just a few of the thousands of helpful verses in the Bible.
Looking for some practical applications of Biblical
principles? Marina McCoy, in her article, Five
Tips for Discerning Balance in a Busy Life, shares down-to-earth
recommendations for finding healthy equilibrium.
Be encouraged! We can obtain balance!
©2018 Pamela D. Williams
