I’m off-balance. While that may not be news to most of you, I’ve now been officially told so by practitioners who are trained to detect such things. I’m told all is not lost, however, as balance can be restored. To that end, several times a week while at the gym, I stand on a board with two half-moon pivots (?) underneath which ‘permit’ much wobbling from side to side and which force a regular reaching out for something to prevent falling off said board. It seems ridiculous that staying upright should pose such a challenge to a young man like myself, but there you have it. To date, no one has suggested any similarities with a Wibble Wobble, so there’s a mercy.
On another level, staying balanced as we navigate life is tricky, too. We are much and easily influenced by many sources. Our families of origin, our friends, our neighbors at the Yacht Club, our work environment, etc. Of course, the media plays a large, and loud, part in this (specifically in this moment, for all who live west of The Pond). US citizenry is mercilessly pummeled for close to two years with all things electoral, every word and misstep of the candidates, every facial expression, plus their every misdeed from kindergarten onward (intensely important decision-making information that).
In these and many other situations the world’s muchness can drown out the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. For the committed Jesus follower, maintaining an equilibrium of Truth over falsehood is almost as difficult as my balance board at the gym. Jesus’ supremacy, however, is forever firmly established over every power in heaven and earth. Lesser rulers come and go. Kingdoms rise and fall. But our Kingdom, the Kingdom where our citizenship is now recorded, will last throughout all eternity. So, how do we face each day with that knowledge determining that day’s outcome?
For starters, life in Heaven’s Kingdom is without fear as we’ve been given the spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. Wow! A sound mind! An unshakable mind! A steady, non-wobbling mind! We stand on a Firm Foundation, and his name is Jesus! Jesus, himself, dresses us with stability! The Father’s love anchors us and invites us to come near! The Spirit’s voice is our trailblazer through life’s minefields and pitfalls and flimsy distractions, not to mention any balance issues we may exhibit. I’d say we’re in Good Hands, y’all. PD
Don graduated from Regent University in 1988 and moved to France for seven years, coming back to the US briefly to marry Sue in 1990. The work in France included working in a Christian School and helping plant a church before returning in 1995. He’s been pastor of Peninsula Vineyard since 1999. He enjoys counseling, especially married couples, traveling back to France (with Sue), reading, doing Sudoku puzzles and sleuthing out good, dark chocolate. Don serves as the senior pastor of the Vineyard Church Peninsula, in Newport News, Virginia.