Have you ever been to the circus and watched the tightrope walkers? I get fascinated by their sense of balance and the intense focus it takes for them to stay safe on that thin straight line. One small adjustment in the wrong direction could lead to their destruction.
There are times when I feel that my life is teetering on the balance of a very thin line. Life can be cruel but it also can be kind it can bring both pleasure and pain and sometimes all at the same time.
This week we received news that my Husbands Father passed away. We have lost a dearly loved Father and Grandfather in what seems like a flash. Life can serve us a blow sometimes that causes us such pain and loss that you doubt if you will ever be the same again.
To add to this, I have also trapped a nerve in my neck causing unrelenting and unbearable searing pain to rush down my arm. My husband has become Mr Mum and I have had many uncomfortable, painful and sleepless nights lying on a hard floor to look forward to.
This may sound like a very unpleasant week indeed but I don’t say this to gain your pity. After all, If we look back to the week before, I was having fun on a cruise in the beautiful Caribbean islands surrounded by family and making everyone jealous with our Instagram posts.
Last week was enjoyed and this week is endured.
This is a like the tightrope walker that is constantly fighting to maintain his balance. Moving his pole from left to right and back again.
Sometimes life swings in our favour and other times not.
If you examine the tightrope walker and the science behind what keeps their feet firmly on that thin line. You will discover that there is a very small and finite line where balance is maintained. Once that has been breached the walker will swing from left to right to find their alignment. Sometimes those adjustments are noticable and other times not. But balance is only restored when they swing.
This too can be said for us.
Balance is only brought when we learn to live between that constant swing of pleasure and pain.
Learning to discover small pleasures even when in pain and remembering the pain when we are enjoying the pleasure is how we keep our feet firmly on track.
The Apostle Paul described this so well in Philippians 4:12-13
‘I know how to get along and live humbly in difficult time, and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing life, whether well fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens and empower me.’
So although this week has been pretty tough and we wave our final goodbye to someone we love; We purposely look back to all the great memories that bring us pleasure and we smile in the midst of our pain.
Beneath the Red Lippy by Angela Williams 