Walking the Fine Line…
Finding the balance…
Walking in nature this last fall, I crossed a log over a creek, and shortly afterwards stopped to take a tea break.
Reflecting on the balance required to perform the log crossing, I mused over how life is like this… finding the fine line required to walk it… one misstep, and one finds themselves in an undesirable position… or with outcomes not to be desired…definitely it seems a road less traveled… eyes narrowing, I ingest another sip of Pu’er bliss…
“Walking the fine line”, and the balance required to do so is a delicate thing. Falling into a pattern of “unbalance” seems to take little effort… yet “balance” and managing the fine line needed, seems to be an uphill battle…
Finishing the hike, I reveled in the splendor of Gods creation surrounding me… so refreshing…
Driving home reflecting on this idea of balance, questions preoccupied my mind… How do I identify, navigate and maintain the fine lines in my life… That was a couple of weeks ago, and ironically I let life get busy and hadn’t finished my thoughts on this subject… sheepish smile…
Saturday having arrived, I was visiting with a friend regarding this subject of fine lines and finding the balance in them… I think it was providence that I hadn’t finished this piece… thinking of our conversation, it was now time to finish…
Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
It seems these “fine lines” are often synonymous with the delicate timing required in our lives.
When you should approach someone about a sensitive conversation
which approach to the summit you should take
Should you press enter or not
Paddle across the lake or hug the sides
Continue the conversation or shelve it for a better time
Continue approaching the decision cautiously or throw caution to the wind and go for it
Like crossing the log, it requires balance and the right timing… a bit of wisdom and discernment is helpful also.
Seems we all have our different ways of sorting out these thoughts and feelings we have… for myself, I first always search the scriptures, then head for a solitary hike to pray, sip tea from an elevated spot and mull over the scripture I’ve read… then hike some more… to pray…
Identify
In identifying the balance needed, I usually reflect on major areas of my life and relationships, and in this order. Your areas may look different or carry a different weight of importance, but the process is the same.
God- For myself this is the most important. God is my foundation, and if the foundation isn’t solid, the rest will crumble. Ask any builder how important the foundation is…
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24-25
Family- Next, family is important to me. Am I obedient in what God expects of me in this role, or not.
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
— 1 Timothy 5:8
Work- Work to me is especially important to maintain careful balance in. In it I have the opportunity to live out my faith, and to honor God in doing so…
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men”,— Colossians 3:23
Rest- It is important to me to put God first in everything. Prayer, study of His Word, and honoring Him in family and work as He modeled for us, is necessary to find balance between our daily activities and rest…
Now it happened that at this time He went off to the mountain to pray, and He was spending the whole night in prayer to God — Luke 6:12
Navigate
Once the areas where balance are needed and identified, I next reflect on how to navigate the fine lines required in achieving it…
Am I prioritizing God in, prayer, reading and studying His Word. Am I mindful that my day to day activities with family, work and friends are balanced, reflect and bring the honor and glory due my Savior.
Maintain
I maintain balance when I place God at the center of my life, and order my priorities with His, instead of the worlds.
When I’m stuck, I search Gods Word for direction, and hike in the woods alone to pray and seek His guidance. Regular self examination to ensure I’m staying balanced in these areas important to me…
The hardest part, yet I believe is necessary is sometimes saying no to secondary requests in order to diligently guard your primary responsibilities to God and family.
“Urgently run to and gaze intently on what’s important rather than succumb to the tyranny of the urgent.”
Conclusion
It’s easy to write about these things, but much more difficult to put in to practice. Jesus modeled this rhythm of balance well, often after a long day of teaching His disciples and others, and interacting with those who wished to kill Him… He would retreat to a quiet place to pray and seek His Father. In so doing, He left us an example to follow in His footsteps and to do the same.
I speak from my own perspective. Whether you are a Christ follower or not, start today to examine your own life. Identify your own areas of balance and be thankful, identify those that are not, and find ways to bring them into balance and harmony that work for you.
Until next time my friends,
Raj
Wise words, brother. Restacking.