Friday, September 11, 2009

September News...Balance

Recently I read a book my daughter brought over named "Oxygen". It was so fascinating in the first chapter as the author, Carol Cassella, who is an anesthesiologist, talks about her work. She discusses the work..."the precision and focus, it's balance of technical skill and clinical judgment, finessing the interplay of heart and lungs while the brain sleeps." The great technology that allows a surgeon to operate and correct a problem in our bodies without us having to feel the horrific pain is unbelieveable. The word balance struck a cord with me and as I read further it seemed to be a powerful word in not only describing her work, but also of the many balances in the human body and then all around us on this earth. As we realize the many blessings we enjoy in this earthly experience we realize more and more how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do indeed live, love and care for us.

An example of health maintenance is involved with balance in our lives with emphasis on the physical, social, intellectual, emotional and the spiritual in order to live a completely healthy life. When one is emphasized over another or one is lacking or left out there is an unhealthy imbalance. Our growth and development as a well rounded individual is thwarted. Also, we are aware of the food groups that we need to balance in our eating habits so we can stay healthy and strong. It is so important that we have certain foods and plenty of water daily.

There is an appropriate balance of light and darkness so we can get the proper amount of sleep and activity as we work and play during the day and retire for our rest at night...that is except for the young who seem to have the two mixed up. The amount of rest and activity is a balance we need to maintain for our physical health. There are also many thoughts about how we need to balance work and play. A vacation from our work or usual activity is so important. The Lord has set the pattern for balance in our lives by giving us six days to labor and do our work, then the seventh for rest and time to worship and draw closer to Him. What a great blessing that is in helping us maintain the balance we need for a happy life.

People all over the earth balance the weather by what they wear. Closer to the poles heavy clothing with extra padding from head to toe make it possible to live there in colder climates. Near the equator there is little need for much clothing and because Heavenly Father has provided His own balance for us there are extreme amounts of foliage to help keep the earth at a livable temperature. Our bodies also adjust to the conditions where we live. Someone who has grown up in either climate have adjusted to that climate and find it difficult to move to the extreme opposite.

Last Sunday I listened to a tape of John Lund, a popular LDS speaker who talked about communication. He was talking to young marrieds and said that we come from unique and diverse family backgrounds and when we marry it is often difficult to find our verbal common ground. He said some families don't verbalize as much as others and in fact some just drop hints and it is difficult to determine just what it is they are really saying or wanting. He was quite humorous in his approach...but he told how men are usually happy with not much communication whereas women like to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. Therefore, women have more women friends who they communicate with far more often than men have men friends who they visit with on any subject. I thought about how that communication balances our social life. How I love my women friends and how I enjoy visiting with them and exchanging information about our lives, our children, etc. This past month I took a trip to Atlanta, Georgia with my daughter Mindi. We had such a good time together and while visiting friends there, I was able to visit a wonderful friend, Dr. Lane Price, who has given me the opportunity to communicate so many thoughts and ideas. What a restful and delightful visit we had from our usual pattern of life. Yes, having good friends brings great balance to my life.

What about marriage? Isn't it just about the best balancing act there is. When you put a man and a women together it is so interesting how many things that are "men things" or "women things". I remember reading one time how man and woman don't need to be incompatible...especially if he has income and she is pattable. There was more to that little essay about how he wants the windows open and she wants them closed, he pushes the toothpaste from the bottom of the tube and she squeezes it from the top. Several little truisms were included in that article...I'm sure you have your own set of differences...but most of them are just little things that really don't mean much in the balance of a wonderful marriage. Since there should be a man and a woman in a marriage and knowing Heavenly Father's teachings on this subject...I think there is such wisdom in having parents...one man and one woman. A child gets a balance of ideas and habits that affect his life for good. Men are usually stronger physically and can more readily take on the role of being the protector. Women are usually more emotional and have a softer side and can provide more understanding for the youth in the home.

You may have heard the saying.."It's not what you gather, but what you scatter in this life" . I'm sure that one important balance is to gather good and then scatter it wherever and whenever we can. There are no doubt many other examples of the balance needed in order to make our world go around smoothly. The ones we can do something about and have control over are the ones mentioned above. I pray that we can all keep a healthy balance in our lives so we will be happy, productive, and ready to meet the Savior when this life is over for us.
With love, Maurine Winters

No comments: