Striving for Balance--Spoken Word Given by Lloyd D. Newell

Striving for Balance

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newelll

Life is busy, but it’s good to take a moment occasionally to make sure it’s busy for the right reasons. Sometimes we may feel like a juggler trying to keep so many things aloft that he’s in constant danger of dropping all of them. With so many pressures and demands competing for our time and attention, we may feel overwhelmed from time to time, inadequate to the task, as it seems that everything is about to come crashing down. How can we keep juggling life’s demands and maintain a sense of balance in our lives? It may help to remember a secret that every juggler knows: you don’t have to catch the balls that are going up, just the balls that are coming down. In other words, focus on the things that need the most attention, each in its appropriate time. For example, where does work fit into a balanced life? Where do family and fun fit in? Some live for their work, at the expense of everything else. Work is important and even gratifying, but in the words of a familiar phrase, “No one ever dies saying, ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.’” Some live for fun and pleasure. But in time, the heart yearns for something more meaningful and satisfying. There must be more to life. As one writer said, “Live a balanced life—learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”1 We need time to laugh and reflect, give and receive, love and be loved—all things in their time and season. As we strive to find the right balance, we can remember the ancient words that remain true to this day: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”2 1 Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (2003), 2 2 Ecclesiastes 3:1. Program #4138