We always want to strive. We always want better. That is the idea with the saints, and the spiritual life. We always want to be the best we can be. But what happens when we take too much…?

One idea is to truly balance our selves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Everything is beautiful and beneficial in the proper dose. Everything is also detrimental with out paying attention to the proper dose.

I love the idea of being saint like, and praying and being spiritual, but one of the things that I think is important to remember is that just because something is attractive does not mean that we must take it all, or do it all at once. In fact, if we do try to take it all at once we will be hurt.

Being strong is attractive to me. I love being able to lift heavy things. And I like pushing myself to get stronger. If I try to lift something that is too heavy I will hurt myself. In addition, even if I don’t try to lift something too heavy, if I am always working out and never giving myself a break I will never be able to heal and grow. My muscles will eventually deplete and give out from not receiving the proper rest. So focusing only on weight lifting and nothing else will not help me to be stronger. In fact it will probably weaken me. At the same time it is important not to rest too long. My body may get used to rest, and become weak from not exercising. BALANCE in all forms and ways of life is truly the key to being the best versions of our selves. Being able to listen to your self and to God is a very useful tool in the game of balancing ones life.

Listening is the difference between having one donut or five. It is the difference of running 1 mile your first day back rather than 10. IF you run 10 you may not be able to run the next day. But if you run 1 then you will be able to run 1 tomorrow. And before you know it 10 miles will feel like 1.

One of the lessons I learned while I was in Hawaii is that I always tried to lift too much weight before I was ready. I never gave myself a chance to develop or heal. Taking time in each of the areas physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual to evaluate where we stand is a good habit to get into. After some evaluation we can see what things we need to ever so slightly move around so that our scale is balanced. Eat a little differently, exercise more or less, have more quiet time or have more time out of your shell, study more or less, spend more time with friends, or maybe you’ve been spending too much time with friends and need to go out on your own. What I am saying is the only way to discover what needs to go on the scale, is to take a look at the truth, and notice how the moves we make are effecting are ability to balance.

In conclusion we all have things we want to work on, and we all have things that hold us back. Take a little of each. When you don’t feel like doing one or the other I might be time to give it a shot. Whether it is time to take a breath and have a rest from the things you are “getting done”, or if it is time to stop resting and get off your butt and go get something done. Just remember each is as important as the other, and just because it feels good one day, for a little while doesn’t mean that a lot of it will feel good. Switch it up, and keep it level.

Peace and love

Joshua Gray Hamilton