The playground of life

It seems that living life well consists of, among many other things, finding a healthy balance between living for the moment and being able to keep the past and future in view.  When a person tends towards one end of the spectrum, the teeter totter of perspective starts to slip towards an unbalanced approach to living.  In Amos, the Israelites’ teeter totter had completely shifted to the moment due to the weight of the wealth they were experiencing.  Even in the midst of warnings of eminent and total destruction, they continued with their rosy-colored optimism, oppressing the poor for the sake of their own personal gain.  A glance at 2 Kings 17 shows the devastating outcome, a mere 40 years later, of their unwillingness to see past their prosperity and live in accordance with God’s instructions. 

In their story, it is easy to see parallels with modern-day America.  Doomsday scenarios aside, however, the lesson, on a more personal note, to be learned is to adhere to godly principles rather than the emotions or logistics of whatever circumstance happens to be confronting us.  Instead of riding the highs and disparaging the lows, embrace the moment for either the lessons to be learned or the countless things to be thankful for while keeping the teeter totter balanced with a knowledge of who God is and what he is asking of you.  If you have trouble remembering what you were created to do, refresh your memory with Deuteronomy 6.4,5 and Matthew 22.36-40. When it comes down to it, it really is as simple as love. One last thought, the beauty of a teeter totter is that it is able to be readjusted at any moment; it is just a matter of shifting your perspective.