Wheel of Balance?

1.     Look at the graph on page 194. When we organize our lives in this “balanced” way, what are some of the possible consequences?

When we divide our lives into seven different facets, it gives us the opportunity to excel in a couple, manage a few, and barely get by in the rest. Your spiritual life might be suffering, but financially you have it together. Maybe you don’t exercise at all, but your career is a success. You can always look to what you are good at and feel accomplished.

It also enables us to entirely neglect certain areas of our life like spirituality or health. You would be so busy concentrating on improving your intellectual that you put your relational life to the wayside. Or decide that you are not a relational person and take it off the pie chart entirely.

Forget the fact that spirituality and relations go hand in hand.

2.    Look at the graph on page 195. Describe a time when your life looked like this. What was your “Peach Cobbler” and how did this version of a “balanced life” impact your spiritual life?

I think that part of my problem is that on any given day my life looks like the “Peach Cobbler” chart, the flavor of pie just changes and it’s almost never peach. Strawberry rhubarb for sure.

It goes back to looking forward to events. My focus is entirely set on getting to that event or getting through that event. And when there is no event, where is my focus? I just spent a few months entirely focused on Christmas and not necessarily in the right way. Now that I have that holiday completed for another year, what am I reaching for?

Because Christmas and spirituality CAN go hand in hand, there is a part of my spiritual life that was thriving during the Christmas season. BUT, there were also times when the spirituality flew right out the window, because things had to get done in order to be prepared for the Christmas machine. And I found myself really hating it. When Christmas Eve was finally here, I really just wanted to sit back and enjoy the services, but I ended up running around and missing the spiritual part. And that was not entirely my fault. Well, other than the fact that I didn’t choose to state my wishes.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

3.    How does Paul’s life serve as an example of shattering the boundaries of balance and entering a life beyond balance?

If health was on Paul’s Wheel of Balance, it was teeny tiny. And so was finance and vocation. He was a known intellectual and he put it behind him. And forget recreation! Unless you consider that he was always traveling. But Paul did focus upon was relationships with the people in order to bring them to Christ. And I wouldn’t say that spirituality was a piece of his pie either. I don’t even consider Paul to be this spiritual powerhouse. He was “One Thing” and “One Thing” alone – a Servant of Christ.

What are some healthy modern-day examples of a life beyond balance?

What? People? Is this where I am supposed to list Mother Theresa and Gandhi? People who turned down comfort and wealth and power in order to serve others? In some cases, in the name of Christ?

Or are we talking practical application … People who do so well financially that everything they touch is gold and yet they do not hoard any of it, but give generously to those in need?

Or the couple that chooses family over money. They buy a small house. They buy older vehicles. Mother stays home. Father takes vacations to spend with his family. He comes home at night and stays.

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels…
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31:10 & 20 (ESV)