Lunar / Sun Day Sermon

The Balancing Act

  On a trip to Key West last year, I had the fortune to watch a gentleman walk a high wire on the edge of a sea wall before the setting sun.  He performed some phenomenal stunts .. juggling balls and bowling pins, maneuvering through fairly steady winds ... always maintaining his balance so he neither dropped into the merge of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, nor did he splatter himself on the concrete and brick of Mallory Square.  What a fantastic expression of balance!

I've thought about that man often and the fact that he informed all the onlookers that he had been doing his daring tightrope act on the edge of Mallory Square at sunset for Twenty-seven years!  The consistency of his endeavor is indeed a feat in itself.

But what really impressed me was his obvious balance -- not only his physical ability to maintain himself on the wire, but his emotional balance to maintain his life, as well.

There are numerous lessons here.  Balance, consistency, fortitude, maintenance, passion, positive demeanor, and ability to carve out a life from virtually nothing.  His game was his life.  He was working his passion and getting by without any assistance other than donations by an appreciative crowd.  This man took something as natural and anticipated as a sunset and incorporated it into a successful career spanning many years - that in itself is a balancing act! 

How can we apply the lessons of the tightrope walker into our own lives? Surely I am not suggesting that you hot foot it down to Key West, find your own corner and perform street theater, unless that is your dream come true! 

We all, however, walk our own tightrope in a sense.  We balance our lives, careers, family and friends.  And, that is what this is about.  Balance.  Just as it was difficult for the tightrope walker to maintain his balance presented by the obstacles of brisk winds and the amiability of his audience, we, too, must strive to maintain our own balance in the face of life's obstacles. 

Balance takes consistency and maintenance.  One doesn't simply achieve balance and then move on to the next hurdle.  Maintaining balance is a continual work in progress.

It takes strength and fortitude to keep going, particularly so when faced with obstacles such as family emergencies, job insecurities, relationship miscommunications, even world events.  Each day we wake up to a new world, both interpersonally and internationally.  Making the conscious choice to put forth a positive attitude takes effort, but it is an effort well rewarded by ... balance!

I once heard a visiting minister describe balance as an actual physical feeling in his chest that sounded like a purring engine. When he was out of balance his engine coughed and sputtered and he took that as a sign that he needed to regroup to get back into a state of balance.  Perhaps he was describing his heart energy center and its resonance within the spiritual being because maintaining a positive energy flow within our own energy centers helps to keep us in spiritual balance – a thought to consider.

I'll close today's Lunar / Sun Day Sermon with an appropriate quote by  Robert Fulghum:

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”

Sounds like good advice for a rich and fulfilling life !

Be blessed always

Dolphyn