Setting Priorities (Blog #47)

Whenever there is a transition in one's life, it is imperative that one sets priorities and establish goals for the next year, the next decade, or the next phase in your life. Over time, as our life circumstances change, those priorities and goals we set for ourselves are likely to change as well. What may have seemed important to us as recently as the last year may not be as critical as we once thought.

For someone who is totally consumed with their job or career, that may be the most important focal point or priority. Perhaps as circumstance change, such as health issues or family concerns, the benefits an employer offers or time off considerations may take precedence over other priorities. Then again, it may even be a matter of the better company to work for than a higher dollar compensation. Obviously, other work related factors to be considered would be the hours required and the travel time required to commute both to and from the prospective position.

Changes to other priorities and goals may reflect our needs and desires regarding housing, family, friends, church and other social activities. As we change, our priorities regarding these, among other things, will hopefully change to reflect our life situation. I, personally, am finding more of a need to be connected to family and friends with the passage of time in my life. I am also certain that in the years ahead, my priorities and goals will continue to change along with other life changes. However, despite how my earthly goals may change along the way, there is one goal which never changes. The apostle Peter expresses that constant goal elegantly in his first letter.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." [1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV]

~ DB Turnmire

Finding Balance in Life

Did you ever find it difficult to achieve true balance in your life? So many things to do and only 24 hours in a day! Where do you start? How do you prioritize the things that are most important and should be at the top of your list? I sometimes find myself starting a project with good intentions and before I can finish that one task, I have started four other projects which are going at the same time.

How do you find and maintain a balance which encompasses relationships, family, work, home and personal time? Does something have to suffer when you are spending more time on work or your home? Is it possible to create a healthy well-balanced life with the proper emphasis on each of the five areas mentioned previously?

Perhaps you have heard of Solomon. He was a wise king in the biblical Old Testament. We could spend an entire blog writing about Solomon and his father David but most of you will remember Solomon for the story about the two women who were arguing over a child. When Solomon decided that the child should be cut in two, the real mother withdrew her claim to the child and that is how Solomon knew which of the women was the child's actual mother. In any case, we will be able to agree that Solomon was a wise man.

Psalm 127 is attributed to Solomon, already noted for his wisdom. In verse 1 of that psalm, Solomon writes "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." [Psalm 127:1] The first step to achieve balance in life is to get focused. If you find yourself lacking focus and direction for your life, consider the wisdom of Solomon. What does that mean for you?

True Christians will recognize that life balance comes only from a life centered in Jesus Christ. No that doesn't mean setting aside an hour a week to attend a worship service or if you attend a Bible study, two hours a week. I know too many "good Christian people" who aside from their "holier than thou" moments are hardly living a life centered in Christ. Their lives are filled with one drama and crisis after another because they lack true focus and meaning in life. Rather than leading well-balanced lives, they live in the moment of whatever arena they find themselves. Unfortunately, it often means that they seek to draw others into their lopsided world.

No one ever said finding balance in life would be easy. There is no instruction book and it isn't possible to apply a levelling tool to our lives to make an adjustment here and there. Jesus once described Himself as "the Way, the Truth and the Life." He's the real thing. If you're looking for balance in your life, perhaps it is time to get focused.

~ DB Turnmire