"Life may not be the party we hoped for ... but while we are here we might as well dance." Now that's just about the best advice I've heard in a long time.
For too many years my life has been controlled by schedules, "to do" lists and an overwhelming sense of my responsibilities to everyone else but myself. Last month I decided to make a serious change in that routine. Though I've threatened to do it many times before, I finally silenced my pounding heart and booked a flight to visit family in Winnipeg in mid-December. Ever since leaving the prairies more than seven years ago I've been longing to see Christmas lights set against the backdrop of dry, crunchy snow. This year, Lord willing and the devil don't hinder, I will.
Today I'm taking another step in this new dance of life by making arrangements to attend an annual conference. It's something I've hoped to do for the past 10 years but I've always had too many other things to do for other people. This one is for me (I admit that I'm using the theme, Strategic Leadership, as an investment in learning that will support my role as president for our local United Way. It still counts, though, because I'm going because I want to go.)
Work-life balance has become a matter of health as well as enjoyment. For the most part our arms have become extensions of our keyboard while our ears are attached to sophisticated headsets allowing instant and unending telephone conversations. Problem is, every part of us is affected. In the chaos of too much information, we forget what's important; in the frenzy of having too much to do, we lose sight of what's happening to our soul.
"Let the children of Zion praise His name with the dance." (Psalm 149:3)
