1. An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.
2. A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions. (fairness, justice, impartiality)
Verb:
1. Keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fail.
2. Offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another
As one who has spent the last 50 years or so struggling with weight issues, I have become well acquainted with the "balance" (the word for scale in French). I have been learning throughout the past 5 decades that losing weight is a balancing act. It means eating a balanced diet while exercising. One must consume less and exercise more in order to "tip the scales" and head in a downward trend. I have just hit the one year mark of staying at my goal weight, having lost 62 lbs and arrived at my goal March 28, 2017. It's a continual balance. If I eat too much the numbers go up. If I don't exercise, the same thing happens. It's all about balance.
Financially it's the same thing. We are in debt. Yep, one of the millions of Americans struggling with credit card debt. I'm ashamed to admit it, but there it is! So, these same principles apply. We must spend less than we take in. Oh hey, a "balanced budget"! What a concept! Yeah, we're still working on that.
Recently my daughter and I have started learning karate. The style we are learning is called "Goju-ryu" and is a traditional Okinawan style of karate. The term actually means "hard-soft style", which refers to the closed hand techniques (hard) and the open hand techniques and circular movements (soft) that comprise this martial art. Here, again, I see balance. It also takes a certain amount of balance for me to stay upright whilst learning to kick, punch and block.
Finally, I see balance in the way God has dealt with his people (and continues to do so). We see passages about how God is strong and He is loving. (Psalm 62:11-12). We see how Jesus was full of grace and truth (John 1:14), and we see how we are to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). (And here is where this gets even more practical for me) You've probably seen this meme.
These days we are not lacking in controversial topics. Even just listing a few here might cause some to respond heatedly.
Gun Control
Transgender
Government spending
Trump
Obama
Abortion
Gay marriage
First/Second Ammendment
Planned Parenthood
Sanctuary States
(I'll stop there)
Did that get your mind racing and your fingers ready to type out a quick response? Before you engage in a heated debate on any one of these (or other) topics. Balance. Speak the truth in love. Don't leave out either one. We must be "kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition..." (2 Timothy 2:24). Be full of grace and truth. Be strong, yes, but be loving.
Balance. It will help me/us stay upright and steady. It will help me/us to be fair and just.
Hard/Soft. Grace/Truth. Truth/Love. Gentleness and Respect/Correction.
