Rhythms and Balance
I’ve never been a fan of the Manichaeins. They were an ancient competitor of Christianity, professing the belief in a dualistic approach to everything. We all hang in the balance between two opposing forces vying for our souls. ”What forces?” you may ask. Everyone together now: “Good and Evil.” It sure makes things simple doesn’t it?
And as much as I don’t like this particular kind of simplicity, I can’t help but embrace a much more holistic idea of balance and complementarity. I think the principles could be the same: I think there are opposing forces at work very often in my life but they don’t work to rend me apart as much as the work to balance the social order of things. When I’m having a particularly horrendous day, very often my close friends are experiencing the opposite. When I’m frustrated, if I’m open to it, I notice people stepping in, usually subconsciously, to alleviate that. A day after I seem to make amazing progress on whatever challenge I’ve been laboring, there always seems to be an inevitable fall from grace (usually and ungraceful one). I’ve never considered these opposing forces pulling me outward, farther and farther apart. I’ve only come to understand them more definitely as a process of falling in and out of balance. There’s always a yin to a yang. There’s always a sweet to a savory. There’s always compassion to follow judgement. There’s always light after darkness.
One of my more recent insights of which I’m particularly proud (but really not attached) is to realize that these rhythms, this balance, is not linear. These balancing forces appear to us as a cycle; ultimately, I think we can trust in the rhythm. When we approach it as linear, everything appears out of place and is scary and creates anxiety. If we’re always moving forward without paying attention to the backward, then we’re certainly going to be lost. While the present always brings us something new, it also always (ALWAYS) reminds us of something old, something familiar, comfortable, to be honored. But how much is that balance. We have to want the balance…otherwise, the rhythm disappears.
This is a really abstract reflection on really concrete events I’m watching happen today. From one source I see hurt–disappointment, discouragement, and wounding. In the meantime, another source experiences great joy, abundance, and love. I’m sitting in between contemplating watching “Glee” again and finding some contentment for both right where I’m standing right now.
It’s a weird day. In that rhythmic, balanced sort of way.