Unbalanced!

So... I had a bit of an episode playing harp for a wedding last week. It could have been a huge 'stop-the-wedding' episode had it progressed the way things were headed.

The wedding took place in a lovely quaint chapel in Kansas City called the Pilgrim Chapel.  Being as prepared as possible, I toted with me a music stand and bench, along with my largest harp, music, tuning key and harp-moving husband John. This is standard procedure, especially since I didn't know what I would find at this site.  I was glad to have my portable bench with me (and also my husband, of course) as the only chairs in this quaint chapel appeared to be pews and low seats designed for extremely short people; both of which do not work for this harpist.




John succeeded in adjusting my portable bench to its very highest and tippiest setting with barely a moment to spare before I had to start playing, and start I did.




Twenty minutes of successful playing went by and I thought I'd better check my phone to see if the bride had sent her text to tell me she was ready.  My phone was on the floor beside me and as I reached down to hit the button, my bench began tipping over... and since I was sitting on it, I began tipping over and was headed for the floor... harp and all.




I let out a little scream (John said I said the s__t word, but of course, I didn't...) and I had one of those moments when I saw how this episode was going to play out.  John said my head was headed for the stone wall and blood was in my future, as well as a bashed up harp. I was clearly out of balance.



At the last second, I pulled up straight and put an end to this episode. I'm certain an angel helped me; possibly a whole task force has been assigned to me to assist me through such blunders.  A little gasp escaped from the audience; I'm surprised they didn't applaud.  Audiences always love a harpist no matter what the performance.


Out of balance... It's not a good place to be.


We Christians all try to live a life that is balanced.  Balance is good, right?  I try to make sure I put some time into prayer each day.  I try to read the Bible and worship each day.  I try to think of something to do for someone else each day.  I'm not unique in this.  I know a lot of people that do all these things more consistently and way better than me.  When I accomplish these tasks, I'm satisfied because these actions balance out the rest of my day which is spent doing other regular unspiritual stuff that needs to be done.  Life is good and balanced.


In my mind I see one of those old scales.  On one side I see my 'regular' actions and on the other side I see my 'spiritual' actions.  Both sides should be balanced.  Even.  Right?


Wrong.

No where in the Bible do I get commended for being balanced.

I read verses like Matthew 22: 37 - 38:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment;  And the second is like it:  Love your neighbor as yourself."


Mark 12:30 includes the word 'strength':

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."



If I pour all of my heart, mind, soul and strength into loving God, I think this calls for something beyond my little morning routine.  All my day needs to center around God.  My thinking... My desires... My actions... My time... My entire life...


My balanced life is going to fly right out the window.


All my day will be spent with God on my mind, doing life for Him and centered on Him.  All that 'regular' stuff can be done in a God-loving and God-pleasing manner.


I quote Sarah Young in her devotional book, Jesus Today:
"Living for Me (God) is a wise investment - not only for rewards in heaven but also for daily pleasure on earth.  I (God) am meant to be the Center of your existence, the Sun around which you orbit.  When you live this way - enjoying Me, serving Me, desiring to please Me (God) - you stay in your proper orbit.  The challenge is to keep Me central in what you do, say and think.



This kind of life is completely unbalanced. That scale is completely tipped heavy on the spiritual side.  There's no balance at all.  Everything is about God... all. day. long.


I still see a need to be balanced on my portable harp bench.  That's appropriate and necessary in most situations...


However...


My life-scale should be completely unbalanced as I love God, my all-powerful heavenly Father,  with all my heart, soul, mind and strength all day long... for all my days... forever and ever.