The new year is wrought with both excitement and dread. On one hand, we are expecting God to do amazing things in the year ahead, and on the other hand, while we remember last year’s exhilaration, we also remember the suffocating moments. Then somewhere in the back of our mind, the what if questions begin to form.
What if the negative outweighs the positive? What if I can’t follow through with all I have in my heart for this next year? What if I receive bad news? What if my children are wronged or they make poor decisions? The sea of ‘what-ifs’ is endless and all-consuming.
While some circumstances are unequivocally beyond our control, if we are honest with ourselves, much of the time, our experiences are a direct outflow of our own flawed decision-making.
Additionally, many poor decisions stem from a lack of balance. Therefore, we often come across situations in life that are symptoms of living in the extreme. We are either at 0 or 100. Gung-ho or lethargic. Hyper-organized or cluttered. Dressed to walk down the red carpet, or rockin’ the messy bun and pjs.
We live in a society that is addicted to extremes. We want steaks slow-cooked to perfection or french fries and milkshakes… like yesterday!
You would do well my friend, to learn the art of balance.
Evaluate your relationships. Are they defined by codependency? Or narcissism? Do some of your friendships smell of spice and sizzle, and others feel as cold as ice?
What about free time? Are you the type of person that says, “Free time: what’s that?” or does the label ‘free spirit’ follow you?
How about your health-o-meter? Is your body crying out for more sleep? Do you eat like a personal fitness trainer some days and like a professional, competitive junk-food eater on others?
What does your bank statement look like? Do you overspend in one area? Are you constantly dipping in to accounts that are already spoken for? Are you able to pay everyone you owe, give to God, bless others and save a little for the future?
I’m almost afraid to ask about your schedule. Do you need to set your weekly online calendar font to tiniest just so it can all fit on two pages? If there’s no white space, you are definitely ‘living in the extreme.’
Remember, Mary and Martha both loved Jesus, and I believe they both loved people and longed to do God’s Will. It just so happens that in the moment of the account in Luke Chapter 10, Martha had allowed herself to become distracted by busyness. She was ‘living in the extreme’ and started bossing everyone around… Jesus included! That’s when He shared with her the bedrock truth, or spiritual bottom line. The one thing that truly was important.
Learn to create margin in every area of life. Do what you can, but leave room for God.
You weren’t created to ‘live in the extreme.’ Even though it can be exhilarating, it’s exhausting and much of the time, miserable.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t invest time and money into important events or have stress-free days with no responsibilities or expectations. Extremes can be good. They can even be appropriate, in moderation.
Jesus raised his voice… a few times. He sought solitude… when needed.
Learn from The Master.
Live a balanced life, with intentionally chosen extreme moments at appropriately healthy times, as needed. Then get back into balance. Get your head back into the game.
Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
“38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.’ 41 But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’”