tension > balance

I wish I could say I’m coming out of what’s been a challenging season. But actually, I’m just learning to embrace the challenge instead of fight my way out of it.

Iron sharpens iron- the grinding of metal against metal.

Tension.

That’s how we grow.

I think we live in a culture where we seek the rainbows and butterflies of “balance,” but I don’t know about you – when I’m doing all the things to feel "balanced,” what I’m really doing is struggling through the tension in mind, body and spirit.

I’m not alone in that, right?

I have to do “this” but the pendulum can’t swing so far to the right or left because that’s “imbalanced.”

I’m not even going to pretend that I comprehend even the slightest details of physics, but I’m still going to enter into that space while fully accepting my ignorance and you can go ahead and judge me for any misinterpretations (I’m secure. Kind of. Be nice.)

But let’s look at a balance scale. What we see on the outside is the balance of two masses, but the scale is actually measuring its response to the force of gravity. Or think of a see-saw. When two bodies are in balance on this familiar piece of equipment on the playground, its actually being balanced by the tension of the springs in the center.

Balance is bullshit.

Tension is truth.

I think we fabricate the real meaning of balance and continually preach the frills and good feels to seek it for comfort or contentment, but that’s a façade.

Once we think we've finally gotten there, it will look like balance on the outside, but it will feel like tension.

Tension doesn’t feel good, but it’s how we grow.

It's necessary.

It's good.

I’m learning to be grateful for it.

Pressures develop patient endurance.

Patient endurance will refine our character,

Proven character leads us back to hope.

romans 5:3-4