By David J. Carr<\/p>\n
\u201cto equal or offset in weight; to balance\u201d<\/p>\n
Proverbs 28:1\u2014\u201cThe wicked flee though none pursue; the righteous are as bold as a lion.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a Christian, I often wonder if an invisible balance exists to life. Faced with sin and temptation in the past, I admit to sometimes taking the wrong path. The sin felt great for a while. Yet, then the anxiety started. A work assignment goes badly. Was this my retribution from God? Why not? I certainly deserved it for having strayed from the path.<\/p>\n
My good friend snaps at me. Oh, so this is my retribution from God. He doesn\u2019t know of my sin, but I certainly deserve his reproach because I have, you know, strayed from the path.<\/p>\n
My favorite sports team loses; I miss a three foot put and lose a bet on the last hole of my golf game; I slip and fall while running in the snow and twist my knee. All these events stress me, make me anxious, bother me.<\/p>\n
Even my successes haunt me. This can\u2019t last. It will catch up with me. Winner today, but what about tomorrow? I flee though none pursue.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, maybe more frequently these days, I eschew sin and the easy path it offers. I pass on the low hanging fruit that my talents might easily acquire, because the act involved plainly constitutes sinful behavior.<\/p>\n
How do I feel? Perhaps frustration pokes at me. (I deserved that pleasure!) But now when that work assignment goes poorly, I just hunker down and aim to do better next time. My friend snaps at me; I snap back and cajole him out of his poor humor.<\/p>\n
My team loses; the other team played better. I missed the putt; I aimed it incorrectly, and will do better next time. I twist my knee running; thank God I didn\u2019t break anything!<\/p>\n
Same events; the very same events\u2014yet I feel no anxiety. In fact, I feel great. My food tastes great; the air smells fresh; tomorrow offers the chance of a better opportunity. America\u2019s best days, and mine, lie in the future\u2014despite my obscenely old age (52).<\/p>\n
It almost feels like I am superhuman, as if an impenetrable shield surrounds me. I may not be bold as a lion, but I feel a power of enormous strength.<\/p>\n
John 12:26 promises that whoever follows Jesus will be honored by His Father. Maybe that means in heaven, but I am not so sure. I find that following the path in this world already seems to pay powerful dividends, whatever may come in the next world. Try it, and see if you perhaps you suddenly develop \u201csuperhuman\u201d happiness powers. I suspect if you find the equipoise I describe; you will not easily be knocked off balance.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2011\u2014David J. Carr\u2014All rights reserved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By David J. Carr \u201cto equal or offset in weight; to balance\u201d Proverbs 28:1\u2014\u201cThe wicked flee though none pursue; the righteous are as bold as a lion.\u201d As a Christian, I often wonder if an invisible balance exists to life. … Continue reading