Humans are not all the same all the time and I suspect that was by creative design. We are put on this earth to balance off each other. It is all a matter of how we manage those contrasts, just as an artist balances color and a musician balances rhythmic sound for a symmetrical effect.
I believe that God, who created heaven and earth, also invented the concept of contrast. He created opposite seasons, like winter and summer. He departs from evil and abides in righteousness. Even through His death, He gave us life. Perhaps this is why contrast is such a powerful element, because it is in the building block of literally everything we have come to know through the millennia as a race, and throughout our own lives as individuals.
The above came to mind after an on-line conversation with a very dear friend who is experiencing the devastation of an extremely sick daughter, all the while providing care and support for an aging mother, not to mention dealing with health issues of her own. "I can't see the good of such suffering as many go through who are ill but I have to trust that God has some plan I cannot see,"
My friend was echoing the sentiments of many who ask "Why is God making this happen?" or "Surely God has a plan in all of this..."
My only answer to those questions is that the most significant plan God has, and the one that we ought to pay closest attention to, is the one revealed in Romans 8:28-30, which tells us that the burden really does not rest on our ability to perceive God’s plan, but rather His faithfulness to the plan He has for our salvation, as well as His sovereign ability to bring us through to the destination he has ordained.
God, from his lofty position on high, is not up there making bad things (or good things, for that matter) happen for the 7.5 billion inhabitants of the world, rather he has gifted all of us with the necessary positives to deal with every negative in life. That's why we are given certain ability to deal with, or counter , the needs of life -- strength to deal with weak, health to deal with sickness, rich to provide for the poor, love to overcome hate. The things that make the world go around.
So, my friend, balance of contrasts keeps things in perspective for us.
We’re pulled in so many different directions—work, family, church, and so much more. How in the world can we find balance?
“How can I have a more balanced life?” This is perhaps another common question. Hidden behind the idea of “balance,” what people usually really look for is a to-do list -- the secret to getting more done, in less time, without as much stress.
The answer may be a bit shocking..."Focus less on the things (or people) you need to take care of, and more on yourself." Balance starts with you. If you want to have more balance in your life, and hence the world around you, you need to know yourself well, manage your commitments, and steward the gifts God has given you.
In the end, with faith, we come out of it all as better people...Ready to take on the next challenge we have been equipped to face, if that is our destiny.
We are all tools of God in this maintenance job we call life.
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