Leading A Balanced Life...

The vernal equinox, or spring equinox, is one of two times during the year when the length of day and the length of night are just about equal. And when this happens, the egg balancers and broom standers come out of the woodwork.

As folklore has it, the position of the sun and other planets on the equinoxes means that miraculous feats of balance can occur. True?

No. But twice a year, many people try. That explains the images popping up on social media of precariously balanced raw eggs and brooms. Look, Ma! No hands!

The spring equinox – when the sun is positioned directly over the equator of our tilted Earth -- will occur at 1:14 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday. And, as About.com notes, astronomers attest that equinoxes and planetary alignments have no "physical effect on earthly objects."

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. And at sunrise on the vernal equinox, Egypt's sphinx points directly to the rising sun.

Nowruz, known widely as the Persian new year, takes place on the vernal equinox. On Monday morning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wished Iranians a happy new year, according to Agence France-Presse, while also calling for respect for human rights and freedom of expression.

Millions of Iranians, Kurds and other groups in the region will celebrate the 13-day festival.

Meanwhile, some Americans will be balancing eggs. -latimes.com, March 19, 2012, Amy Hubbard

Besides balancing eggs, we do need balance in our lives as well. Too much of one thing, or another (extremism) is not good! The Book of Ecclesiastes offers some outstanding advice for balanced living.

First, do things in moderation (Ecclesiastes 7:15-22). After all, extremes can create problems. One of life's vanities is that the righteous don't always prosper, nor do the wicked always suffer (Ecclesiastes 7:15).

Here the Preacher saw that which Job's friends did not. They reasoned that righteous never suffer, only the wicked (cf. Job 4:7-8). Yet Job, like the Preacher, knew that was not always the case (cf. Job 21:7-9).

Of course, both Job and the Preacher knew the ultimate end of the wicked. The wicked are reserved for the day of doom and wrath (Job 21:30). And, it will be well for those who fear God (Ecclesiates 8:12-13).

One should avoid extremism in seeking to be righteous and wise (Ecclesiastes 7:16). There is a righteousness to be avoided (i.e., "self-righteousness"). There is also righteousness born of pride and arrogance (e.g., Luke 18:10-14). The Pharisees were a classic case of being "overly righteous" (cf. Matthew 23:1-33).

There is also a wisdom to be avoided. This is the wisdom of this world (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20). It too is born out of pride and arrogance.

One should also avoid extremism in wickedness and foolishness (Ecclesiastes 7:17). Not that "a little wickedness and folly" is ever acceptable to God! But God may be merciful and provide opportunity to repent for some (2 Peter 3:9), while His anger and wrath might be moved to cut off those who arrogantly and openly despise Him (e.g., Acts 12:21-23).

Second, don't refrain from true righteousness and wisdom. One should still fear God (Ecclesiastes 7:18). Understanding the dangers of extremism is important, but the fear of God remains the key to true knowledge and pleasing God (cf. Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 8:12).

Wisdom does have its place (Ecclesiastes 7:19). It is better than ten rulers (or mighty men) of a city! Or, better than strength (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:13-18). Yet no one is perfect (Ecclesiastes 7:20). No one is perfect, even as the Psalmist declared (Psalm 14:1-3), and as the apostle Paul taught (Romans 3:21).

Third, don't believe everything people say. You may sometimes hear others say bad things about you (Ecclesiastes 7:21). You, yourself, have said things that were unkind about others (Ecclesiastes 7:22). So don't take what you hear too seriously (i.e., don't be so" righteously" indignant).

The sense of this section seems to be one of being "balanced", not over-reacting that you overshoot your true goal, which is to please God. Along the same vein, one should also remember that as valuable as wisdom may be, wisdom alone is not the answer! (Ecclesiastes 7:23-29)

Why? Because there are some questions wisdom can't answer! The preacher himself had proved some things by wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:23a), but others things were too deep and far off (Ecclesiastes 7:23-24; cf. Isaiah 55:8,9).

Here are some final thoughts on leading a balanced life. Man's pride tends to propel him to go to extremes. Those not content to obey His Word often seek out many sinful deeds. Even those seeking righteousness can go too far (e.g., where "righteous indignation" becomes "self-righteous indignation").

Of course, the solution is not to refrain from righteousness and wisdom, but to seek after it humbly (cf. Matthew 5:3-6). And, to apply gentleness, patience, and humility in all things, even toward those who are opposing God! (cf. 2 Timothy 2:24-25; 1 Peter 3:1-4).

Prayer:

I am no longer my own but yours,
Put me to what you will
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal
And now glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And this covenant now made on earth, let it be satisfied in heaven. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Mackenzie