Finding Balance

As we grapple with the problems of each day it is easy to forget about yesterday, and tomorrow.  The danger if we do is we may come to a false solution – one that provides an immediate remedy, but leaves a much larger long-term problem.  I think we gain much if we look toward major religions and philosophies, and perhaps add a dash of Ben Franklin for good measure, on how we should govern our lives.

Lets start at the beginning… Don’t eat forbidden fruit.  It can cause a whole lot of problems, starting with realizing you’re naked, getting cavities, pain in child birth and oh yes… lets not forget about original sin.  I think the important lesson here is when God say’s you shouldn’t do it, it is probably good to listen.  Of course in today’s electronic age we really don’t often get those burning bush and deep voices from the clouds moments of yesterday.   The communication is a little subtler and requires some amplification by the soul. 

Confucius said, “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” Which loosely translates into King James as “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31.  Which, in turn, roughly translates into modern American as “Dude, me U ok?”  This “Golden Rule” is also found in Buddhism, Bahá’í Faith, the code of Hammurabi, and about 1 in 15 fortune cookies so it has got to be pretty important.  I think it is good advice especially if the other you would do onto is bigger than you.

Yin and Yang, symbolized by a circle with white and black in opposition, is the Chinese understanding of how nature works.  Forces in opposition are the engines that drive nature and suggest the balance that must be maintained.  As the current web dating services would put it “opposites attract” but I don’t think that is nearly as deep as what the Chinese came up with.

So where does this leave us?  As Ben Franklin would say if he was alive today, "One, whiz, with" because a man of his refinement would surely order a Philly Cheesesteak from Pat’s.  But since he’s not alive today he said “All human situations have their inconveniences.  We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse.   Which is, I think, where I started!  

Have a great day!