The essential gift of balance

Walking through life requires balance.
 
Think about balance....such a gift...such an essential quality for our functioning.  Without balance we couldn't walk or stand. Provided we are not suffering from an inner ear disorder, balance is usually easily achieved with little thought or intention. There are other times when we need to be more actively involved in maintaining our stability... as when we are perched on a ladder or a balance beam.  Some folks seem to have an unshakeable balance point ... others, like me, will waver and tilt a while ...then feel stabilized...at least for a moment.  (Fear has a significant impact upon gaining that stability!)

Anybody who has learned how to ride a bike knows how to recognize that moment of "aaahhh....there's the balance."  It feels like the vehicle has settled into a groove ...  and once it is there, the rider can shift the attention to speed and turns... the momentum of moving sustains the balance.

Can you remember your early bike riding days?

You may or may not have had training wheels, but I would guess you can recall the effort it took, initially, to discover the balance point.  Then, you were off!  And most folks would agree, once you learn to ride a bike, you simply won't forget how to do it! 

Today's reading from 2 Peter reminds us of faith's power to ground us.  Through faith in Christ, we can sustain balance and stabilty in our life and in all that we are, all that we do, as we prepare for the Lord's coming. 

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.


Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

2 Peter 3:11-18

Truth be told, some days are more challenging than others.  Situations, relationships, or our own spiritual, psychological or emotional disorder may threaten our equilibrium.  We may need to exert extra effort to find our groove and regain our balance.  However, we have the love of Christ on our side.  God is always beckoning to us, even grasping our wavering, teetering souls saying:  Fear not...through me you can be upright and unshakeable! 

It's like riding a bike..... once you learn...

Pause...take a breath...be in Christ...aahhhhh there it is!  Now, off you go!