Why is it so difficult to find a good balance? Oftentimes, we spend way too much time on one aspect of our lives and neglect other areas. Our morning coffee is either too bitter or too sweet. We either come across as being too intense or too lackadaisical. We exercise too much one week and not enough the next. We feel that our faith is overflowing one day, and lacking on another. Yet, having a lukewarm, balanced faith is not the goal. Maybe our concept of balance has become skewed. Maybe, just maybe, the Goldilocks story was missing something. Maybe always looking for the perfect balance is holding us back, blinding our eyes from seeing the beauty of every season (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Could it be that focusing on our strengths should be the goal? Could it be that our morning coffee that is either too bitter or too sweet is helping us to discern? Could it be that it is better to be authentically lackadaisical than a fake? Could it be that your body needs more recovery from exercise one week? Could it be that our faith goes through seasons because we must rely upon God, and not ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“OUR LIFE MISSION SHOULD NOT BE TO BECOME AS WELL-ROUNDED AS EVERYONE ELSE.”
We have this idea of a perfect balance, but it is driving us mad because we are imperfect people. If you exemplify that you are an excellent writer, but struggle with math, you will be told to dedicate your time and resources to improve your math skills. Yet, doing this can take away the attention that you could have given to your true gift. Of course, it is important to be well-rounded, but the popular tendency has been to make well-roundedness the end goal. Well-roundedness is supposed to be able to help you accomplish your goals, not be the goal itself. We can strive for perfection all day long, yet we are imperfect beings. We can have knowledge, but it is never complete. We can have good intentions, but are they ever without corruption? We can be loving, but we cannot love perfectly; only God can. God has spoken through His Word. That is the standard for our lives; not our own concept of well-roundedness.
The reality is that God did not create all of us to be the same, and we should be so thankful for that (Acts 17:24-28, and Ephesians 4:12-13). In light of this, our life mission should not be to become as well-rounded as everyone else. Rather, we ought to build one another up with the aptitudes and gifts that have been given to us.
When it comes to exercise, there are three zones that are utilized in cardiorespiratory training. Interestingly, a low percentage of this training is completed in the middle zone (zone two). In fact, zone two has even been referred to as a “black hole” of training because it is prone to causing fatigue without the benefit of optimized muscle growth or cardiovascular efficiency. It is actually wise to conduct the majority of your training in what is called zone one, a less intense type of exercise. So, while at first zone two may seem like the best option when it comes to training time commitment, being well balanced may end up leading to being caught in the middle.
To clarify, I am not implying that well-roundedness and a solid life balance are negative connotations. I am only suggesting that they should not be the main goal. When we strive for the 50th percentile in every category, we end up getting caught in the middle. If we find ourselves in that place, we have to keep pressing on, because there is a purpose to fulfill with each day that God has given us breath; that purpose calls us to a place beyond being average (Psalm 150:6).
Beautifully written.