Equilibrium

Life can be hectic at times as there is an endless parade of tasks and pressing requests scrambling for our attention.  In the dusty cloud this busyness creates it’s so easy to lose sight of truly important things.  I admit there are times when my life is out of balance and I seek equilibrium.  So I sat down and thought about those things for which I must make time if life is to be balanced. 

The foremost command in the Bible is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).  I am not going to talk about love right now but I do want to consider our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  I asked myself a simple question recently, “What am I missing because I’m busy”?  The following are some notes I made to myself and I share them in hopes that it will be helpful to you.

1. Rest.  We need to take care of our bodies in order to have the strength we need.  When we’re busy morning until the waning moments of a long day, we are missing out on times of rest and rejuvenation.   We may even get so busy that we are not getting the exercise we desperately need as we burn that proverbial candle at every end possible.  The soul is housed in a body and we do need to take care of it.   So schedule in times where you can chill out and relax during the week in order to have balance.  I am making a memo to self: Take a few nights off during the week!  

2. Reading.  Interacting with great thoughts and taking time to strengthen our minds is very important as well.  What have you been reading lately?  The Bible inspires me greatly and I love interacting with it.  What about reading other authors, history, biographies of great people, or current events?  For our lives to be balanced we need to read more.

3. Reflection on Spiritual Things.  Let’s not lose sight of our souls!  Service to God and others is of vital importance for a balanced life.  When my world is out of balance I find that I’m not accomplishing those things that God has laid on my heart to do because I’m caught up in all of the urgent demands and losing sight of profoundly important spiritual assignments!  I need to every once in a while reflect and ask this question, “God, what do you want me to accomplish for you with the talents you have given me”?  Maybe God wants you to call someone and encourage them.  Perhaps God wants you helping someone out or getting involved in a service team at your church or in your community.  Do you have time for God and God’s things?  If you don’t your life is out of balance.

4. Relationships.  The heart needs to give love and receive love but unless we make the necessary time we cannot nurture our relationships with our family or friends.  I’m such a doer and sometimes I think I could be happy zipping along to the next task on the do list until the day is far spent because I enjoy getting things done.  But we cannot do that at the expense of our relationships with others.  Have you spent any time intentionally developing friendships?  I love people and love socializing but I don’t always make the time for it like I should.  I confess that I really blew it lately because I was so out of balance that I didn’t call a friend when they needed me.  I confess that I’m not always that ever listening ear for my children that I need to be!  I spend time with them but sometimes it’s more about doing things than it is face to face relating.

Is your life balanced in these areas of rest, reading, reflection on the spiritual, and relationships?  Let’s work at intentionally blocking out times for the truly vital things in life that are so easy to miss!  It will take a deliberate effort to make the time to gain our balance!!

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