All about balance

Remember the lure of sidewalk curbs and railroad rails? As a child and even sometimes now as an adult, I feel the need to walk and balance on these narrow toe paths. Granted, I'm less likely to stay on the slim passageway today than when I was twelve.

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It takes some concentration and body control for me to perch atop these challenging places. After a few step offs, I usually go back to walking on the flat surfaces. Sprained ankles and twisted knees I do not need. There is a good feeling of achievement to walk the narrow curbs and there is some defeat in falling off. These ups and downs are part of life to.

There are days when life is challenging and it seems as though nothing good will ever occur again. In these dark places, we lose hope and begin to falter. We wobble and grasp for anything that might halt our fall. In some cases, we do fall to the ground and have a decision to make. We can stay down and sink into the dirt. Or, we can look up and grasp the hand of our God and rise to a place of life and hope again.

With God, there is always a sense of balance. If something bad happens to the right side, look to the left side with expectation for something good to occur. I remember the joy of a newborn baby fifteen years ago. Our fourth child came into the world in August and we had a focus. We were quite busy.

Not two and a half months later, we laid our father to rest. A massive heart attack had knocked him to the ground and he never recovered. In some senses, his death knocked us to the ground as well. With a newborn baby needing care, we chose to look up and grasp God's waiting hand.

With each passing year, we realize the gift of a newborn baby was a Godsend to help temper our grief and sadness. We were given the huge responsibility to move on with life. Joe was that balance that our lives desperately needed. We chose to rise out of the dirt and grasp that lifesaving hand of God.

The psalmist took note of God's goodness and balance in all things. Take a look at the last few lines of this rejoice.

Psalm 126 - A song of ascents.

"When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were

filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has

done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our

fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves

with him." (Psalm 126, NIV)

Are you in tears today? Take heart, joy is forthcoming. Is grief and weeping your daily food? Wait for God's blessing of joyous music to sooth your soul. It will happen, because God balances things out across our lives. Our only responsibility is to look up and reach out to receive the gift

"And we know that in all things (good and bad) God works for the good of those who love him, who have

been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV)