In 2013 Nik Wallenda crossed the little Colorado River Gorge on a tight rope. In an interview on NPR he spoke of the balance that comes from a lifetime of practice. He spoke not just physical balance on a wire but of personal balance in his life. He spoke of a lifetime of ordering one’s priorities if one is to live a full life. It is easy to become absorbed in one facet of life and let things shift out of balance. We have all seen people who major in their diet and others who major in going to church; if the results are not vibrant health and being a loving person than something is out of balance.
Much too some people’s surprise Jesus was not overly religious, at least by the then community standards. He rarely attended religious services and when He did it didn’t always end up very nicely. He had harsh words regarding the religious leadership. He kept bad company and yet He spent entire nights in prayer. He liked boat trips on the Sea of Galilee and beach trips to the Mediterranean. He didn’t talk like the priests. He told stories about real life.
I don’t consider myself to be a religious person and yet after performing weddings I often disappear early on in the reception party because I know people are more comfortable celebrating if “the preacher” isn’t there. Most of the people Jesus made uncomfortable were the religious ones.
Balance comes from a lifetime of experience. Eating, socializing, studying, playing, resting, praying, working, telling stories, laughing, and being with family are just a few of the important things we balance in our lives that we might live an abundant life.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 1, 2013
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