Today I want to begin a discussion with you about the idea of balance. The more I’ve thought about this word the more I realize how balance is part of almost everything in us and around us. The need for and importance of balance is evident in the natural world, our physical body and its ten systems, our diets, finances, emotional life, spiritual life, relationships, and marriages.

What do we mean when we use the word “balance?” The answer could take us in many different directions but with one common theme in each answer. I’m a college sports fan and I think a champion basketball team must have a balanced offense and defense. To win at a high level, the team members must score consistently and not depend on one superstar to score most of the points. Additionally, all team members must play together to keep their opponents from outscoring them. Balance is an important part of winning.

The same is true in individual sports. If you want to win, you must have balance. Have you watched a 

young gymnast performing acrobatics on a 4″ balance beam or a bicyclist doing flips and amazing maneuvers in the air? The gymnast or cyclist must balance on a narrow beam or the position of their body to safely accomplish their goal.

I recently watched with amazement and disbelief as snowboarders at the X-Games demonstrated enormous daring, skill, and balance as they performed breathtaking feats before landing safely on the snow-packed turf below. 

Speaking of daring, skill, and balance, some of you may recall seeing this amazing high-wire feat at the Twin Towers in NYC in 1974. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwbil5puqng 

Whether you’re applying the idea of balance to sports, finances, your marriage, relationships, or your physical or emotional health, there is one underlying reason why balance is critical. Balance is a must if you want to be successful, and for things to go as well as they can go for you.

Can you think of the ways “balance” or the lack of it plays a role in your life every day? How does balance affect you physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually? Do you recall instances in which the lack of balance or the loss of balance has hurt you or someone else physically, emotionally, financially, or spiritually?

Most of us want to live a good life, one that focuses on what matters and leaves a strong legacy for our family and friends. That’s how I want to live and I hope you do also. I’m convinced that BALANCE is an integral ingredient in making that happen. 

I want this blog post to serve as an introduction to several other posts on the subject of “balance” which I plan to address with you in the coming weeks. What I want to discuss with you is a kind of balance we may not think about much until life gets out of balance.

Are there parts of your life that are chaotic and out of balance? What is going on in your marriage or other relationships? How are you doing emotionally in all the craziness that is going on in our world? How are you managing your finances? How is your walk with God, is that helping you keep your life in balance?

I want to close this post with a challenge from the Apostle Paul for you to consider as you think about balance in your life.

In his letter to the Philippians, he tells us to live out our salvation experience in our current environment of unbelief and opposition: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling…in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:12, 15).

What does a balanced life look like? That’s where we will start next week.