Too much of a good thing…
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise. Ephesians 5:15
Beware the barrenness of a busy life. Socrates.
About four or five years ago, my five year old grandniece came to visit; we had many fun outings together. She very much liked the pretty rocks that I’ve collected on my rock hounding trips, so it was natural that she started noticing rocks when we were out and about. One day, we walked a trail to a lake where we picnicked and spent the afternoon swimming and exploring. She found a number of pretty rocks and wanted to take them ALL home. When I explained that she could take whatever she liked home BUT she had to carry them out in her pack, she became much more selective!
Jesus teachings often focused on contrasting the desire for earthly pursuits or wealth with the joy found in God and his blessings. The story of Martha and Mary exemplified how even good works can get in our way of simply sitting at the feet of Jesus. The wealthy young man who couldn’t give up his riches to follow Jesus is another. We are admonished to store up heavenly treasures which cannot be destroyed but are eternal. Yet we all consistently struggle with this. There’s always a fine line between enjoying the life God has given us and keeping our focus firmly on Jesus, living in faith produced gratitude and contentment.
Each year, I’m especially reminded of this need for balance in my life. You see, there was a time when I would just go with the flow on every trip that presented itself but after a year or more, I found that what should have been fun and refreshing actually started feeling overwhelming and tiring. Now, at the end of December and beginning of January, I have developed a tradition where I take time to plan trips for the whole year. This allows me to be a wise steward of my time and energy, so that I can enjoy both travel and sweet time at home.
Do you find yourself going on trip after trip chasing the next exciting locale? Or maybe it is the lure of “things” so it’s Amazon purchase after Amazon purchase seeking happiness? Perhaps it’s the pull to spend every free moment with family and friends to constantly stay busy and feel needed. Today, try to spend some time in prayer and consider how you may find a better balance for your time, energy, and monetary resources in 2026.
Wishing each of you a Happy New Year where even the smallest blessings fill your days with joy!
