Life is Like a Seesaw

As the new year begins, I realize that I am already behind. It sounds like I am being a pessimist only five days into the new year, but honestly, that is not my intent. Pulled in many directions, I can't engage in life in any reasonable order. I could go into details, but I am reasonably sure you, too, have the same struggles—finding order and balance in daily living tasks and figuring out how to manage life's spiritual and physical demands. My attempts seem to resemble the childhood experience we are all too familiar with of getting on the see-saw and never being able to get off the ground due to being the heavy load or with legs dangling in mid-air no matter how much swinging of the legs or bouncing on the seat; we remain suspended meeting eyes with the weight of our encumbrance that often took delight in our inability to move from our perch. I can attest I've been the one on the ground stopping the see-saw process and the one in mid-air incapable of changing my predicament, but both yielded the same thing - no progress!

I am taking a different approach this new year, though in significant areas of life. Spiritually, I didn't rush out to buy a new devotional book as I do each year. I didn't commit to reading the Bible from cover to cover as I have in times past and failed... because the goal was to read in a year. I had to read fast, and each time, there was no opportunity to soak in the truth of each chapter. Therefore, that's my approach. One chapter a day is completed by studying what I do not understand about what I read. Who knows how long this approach will take? I'm okay with however long it takes if the payoff is understanding and the ability to apply what I have read. 

Physically, I stink at consistent exercise. Blame it on my job—there's some truth to that, but it can't be the reason for my slacking. So, I'm not joining the gym for the thousandth time. I am committing to one element of physical activity each day.

I get to choose. It could be climbing the sixteen stairs in my home by sets, walking two miles on my treadmill, or walking around the university campus near my house. It could be chair yoga due to a bad knee or all of the above, but the goal is at least one. 

Relationally, with family and friends, there is no boxed or packaged plan here; it is simply to be present and attentive. How many of us say this? The busyness of life makes us great at multitasking, but this one area is challenging. So again, one thing, be present. This is a touchy one for me - my job. I want no less than the best - even if it kills me! I'm not giving up doing my best but rather letting all that I can accomplish in the hours of the day, having done my best, be enough for that day. 

This sounds like a big order for a new year that I already feel behind in but put it in perspective; it's simply exercising the power we can find in being faithful to one thing in each area of life's challenges. 

In all this, I am reminded of the work of creation. Maybe God practiced the power of one, too; I think He did that exactly as I read through the scripture on day one of this year. Perhaps you know the story, but when God spoke creation into being, He did one thing daily with intent, purpose, and order. Each part of His creation was intentionally in preparation for the next part.

Take a look at the order of creation.

Day 1 Light

Day 2 Sky

Day 3: Land and Seas, Followed by Plants and Trees

Day 4 Sun, Moon, and Stars

Day 5 Birds, Creatures of the Land and Sea

Day 6 Man

Day 7 God rested from all His labors. 

As I took this apart, since I did not have to rush to read countless chapters for a daily quota, I noticed God's purposeful, orderly moves. He considered each part of the creation plan as preparation for the next part of His work in creating the world. This is undoubtedly a sign that I, too, need to exercise purposeful intent and order in my life, beginning with my belief in Him and the working of His Son, Jesus, to save my life. My worship of God for all He has created, recognizing I am a steward of His creation with allegiance to Him and His teachings and truth—my sphere of influence He has given to me through family, friends, and co-workers and my obligation to rest as He did.

Yes, when I think about all of this, I return to the days of the see-saw. Sometimes, I can't seem to get off the ground because of my heavy load in life. At other times, I'm dangling in the air, unable to move, helpless because of the lack of strength needed to bear the times life seems out of order or in disarray. Whether up or down, I must remember to look for balance, the importance of order, and intentionality daily. I must return to the simplicity of truth in something as simple as the see-saw.

"God saw all He had made, and it was very good..."

Genesis 1:31 (NIV)