Being moderate about most things in life is like drinking lukewarm water on a hot day. It is living in the shadows of life--never in the light and one foot in the dark. It stands for little and rejects less. It condemns almost nothing and condones almost anything. It is a will uncommitted and a body in suspension. It is a mind un-made and heart satisfied with appetizers.
I don't do much in moderation. I'm a full-steam ahead, let's get'er done kind of person. When I eat chocolate, I want the whole bag of Hershey's kisses. When I eat shrimp, I want a pound; forget the sides. When I plan a party, I go overboard. When I'm in charge of a drama production, I "take it to extremes", my husband attests. I'm not as simple as I like to believe sometimes, yet I'm not as complex as some might assert when watching me live in tandem with the universe. While I realize that black is not always black to folks and white is not always white...I find a great deal of difficulty with the gray areas of living life.
If I don't like something, I don't eat it, read it, do it, or toy with it. If I don't believe in something, I don't approve of it, condone it or pretend I do. If I believe in something, I don't hide it---I defend it, extol it and share it to the best of my ability. I seek advice and respect wise counsel. I ignore provocations and test interpretations. I try not to waste time in negative pursuits with pessimistic partnerships--either in fellowship or conversation.
This creates a huge dilemma in life at times. Sometimes I'm hot and sometimes I'm cold...but rarely is my thermostat set on 72 degrees. I won't shop in some stores nor buy some products. I can't subscribe to most magazines because of their advertising. I'm eating at fewer and fewer restaurants because of the beverages they serve. I won't go to movies because of positions that the actors take on moral issues. I don't watch much TV. I don't open all emails. I don't read entire blog-posts and skip over some comments. I can't shop for new clothing because it's immodest. Life presents a crossroad at every step it seems. Either or, nothing or all, this way or that. Moderation just doesn't seem to have enough contrast.
I know that while I am "in this world", I am "not of this world". But some places are too dark to stand in their shadows and listen to the whispers of temptation. Don't you think? selahV
[© SelahV Today, 2008]
