Balance

For many of us, we go through our day-to-day routines, and we scurry from one task to another. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed. You start one task and then another and then another, and soon, like a circus juggler, you find yourself running around, attempting to keep multiple things up in the air. Busier than you ever thought possible, sleeping less to study more, you find that your tension and stress levels gradually creep upward.

If this describes how you feel sometimes, I offer you the words of the Apostle Paul, who states in Hebrews 12:1-2 to remember that you aren’t alone in your pursuits and there are people on your side. Lean on that knowledge and let it propel you forward. Paul goes on to say that you should put off everything that weighs you down and causes you to drift off course.

Within the current culture and climate there is constant pressure to multitask and “do more” – the issue then becomes “when is more too much?” And a very telling sign of when “more” becomes “too much” is when stress and tension become overwhelming. To combat the tidal wave of emotions that come with being overwhelmed, take a moment and consider whether you can simply set some things aside.

Choosing to “do less” sometimes, and then reminding yourself that you’re not alone in your career, education, or other pursuits, and leaning on a good support system as well as your faith community will help you to alleviate the stress. Life can be tough, but you can accomplish your goals.  Focus on your faith and declutter your calendar, do that which is necessary, and let the rest work itself out! If you can master these things, balance will come…but don’t get discouraged, we are all works in progress.

Rev. Kevin McNeil, Campus Pastor