Balancing Act

I know we've all been there.  Truth is, maybe some of us have never left.

Constantly juggling, trying to find that elusive thing in life known as balance. 

Why is finding a happy, calm, balanced life so truly difficult?  Why do we get so wrapped up in trying to do everything and be everyone to all people?  Why is it so frustratingly impossible to prioritize and resist the urge to take on more than we know we could possibly complete in three lifetimes, much less just this week?

Well, I don't really know why this is so difficult, other than because of certain human impulses that are hard to overcome, and a society and culture that places high priority on doing everything, and doing it well.  Or at least having the appearance of doing everything and doing it well.

Over the past few weeks, I have spent a great deal of time wrestling with trying to balance my life, and in doing so, attempting to discern God's will for me and my family, and learning to prioritize.  Because, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what people on the outside see or think of your life, the choices you make, and the way you spend your time.  All that matters is what God sees and thinks.  And when I really step back and compare what I insist are my priorities with the ways that I spend my time, quite frankly, the two just do not add up.  Please hear me, though.  This is not the first (and I'll wager, will not be the last) time I have had to measure my priorities up against my day to day life.  I get off track rather easily.  But each day I am striving to grow a little more into the woman that God wants me to be, and a little less like the selfish, materialistic individual I am all too familiar with.

If you want to live a more balanced life, in line with God's plan for you, it has to start with making priorities.  Priorities that match God's priorities.  Then those priorities have to line up with the way you spend your time.  Because it doesn't really matter what you say your priorities are, ultimately, what is most important to you will be evident in what you give the most time to.  For example, how many people would say that their family is a priority?  Probably a lot, if not most.  Yet how many of those people spend 10-12 hour days, weekends, and holidays at work?  Constantly striving to further their career, or make their way up the corporate ladder?  Likewise, I would say that spending time with God is a priority for many Christians, and yet, how much of their (and my) time is actually spent in prayer or in the Word?  An hour and a half on Sunday morning?  If even that?

As for me, I am tired of juggling too many projects that ultimately are taking away from time that should be spent elsewhere.  I want my priorities to match God's priorities, and then the way I spend my time to line up with those priorities.  Is Facebook a priority?  No.  Twitter?  No.  But taking care of my children is, as well as spending time in God's word.  Does that mean while my kids are napping I have to give up some internet, social networking time?  Yup.  Does that mean that I have to put off finishing that scrapbook that's been sitting out, unfinished, for months?  Unfortunately.  And does that mean I may have to set aside some of the housework for another day?  Possibly.  But that's ok, because I will be spending time doing the things that really matter.  And I will have a happier, more balanced life because of it.