The Extremes

So many extremes exist in society, homes, workplaces, schools, relationships, churches, social clubs, and so many other places. Extremes seem to be the norm in today’s society. Extremes can destroy us. Often, the continual ups, downs, and plethora of crazy that leads us to the extremes will take its toll and leave those who willingly participate in its demise drained, downtrodden, and eventually destroyed. Amazingly, we are constantly being watched. How often do you think about that? Somebody’s watching me... (I am sure a mid-1980s song comes to mind.) The omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent Lord and Father that we serve beholds, sees, and knows all our extremes. Sure, it is hard to comprehend this when we are in extreme moments, and honestly, it is a mindset that we easily escape into because of the noise that swells in this life. These dichotomous outflows of thought become normative in our speech and behavior. On one hand, it may discredit our witness to the world, and on the other, it impacts our relationship with the Lord. Some may say that the extremes provide a sense of venting or, at best, the enlistment of others who also find themselves living in the tension of the extremes. However, the reality is that the believer begins to see themselves as victims of everyone and everything, even of the Lord. We do not utter such words, yet our behavior demonstrates this reality. Our joy leaves, our worship and praise is diminished, our Word intake is backed off, and we begin to look much differently than the scriptures reveal we should. May the Lord help us to run from extremes.