Balance
We
totter precariously on the beam…arms straight out, trying to steady ourselves…trying
so hard – so desperately hard - not to fall off. That’s the picture that comes to mind when I
hear the word “balance.”
I was
walking with a wise lady around our beloved (and much missed) Lakebottom
Park. She said – or maybe it was just
that I heard – “this ‘balance’ that everyone talks about really isn’t possible.” This was way back when – way back before I
learned the art of the ever so helpful “what do you mean by that?” follow up
question. How I wish I’d asked what she
meant by that. I’m still not certain
that I heard her correctly….but it’s stuck with me…and I’ve often wondered if
balance is possible. Are we ever really
balanced? Lined up just right so that we don’t topple over. Do we ever get just the right mix of strict
and fun with our children? Work and
play? Do we ever truly find the balance
in our schedules? In our eating habits? Do
we ever get the scale to level out as we sort through taking time for ourselves
and investing in others? Balance. How much is too much? When is it not enough?
Sometimes
balance feels like the moment before it all comes crashing.
I
suppose the good news is that even if we lose our balance, we’re assured of grace
upon grace upon grace upon grace to get back up and try again. And maybe the picture needs to include our
amazing Father of a Coach who is standing right by the beam – holding our hand,
cheering us on, not expecting perfection…just wanting us to try…just wanting us
to enjoy the time with Him…or maybe He’s saying “why don’t you get off that
balance beam and come play on the uneven bars for a while?” or “come run and do
cartwheels with Me on the mats….”
