Stomach chemistry depends on the right balance. Too much acid produces ulcers on the stomach lining. Too little acid reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of the digestive system. Both conditions lead to problems.

Balance is also an issue in many other aspects of life. Brushing our teeth is a good thing. It reduces the opportunities for dental decay to get a foothold and our friends appreciate it. But obsessive brushing has been known to wear away the tooth enamel, leaving it worse off than it would have been with just a few cavities to worry about.

Exercise is a good way of staying healthy and extending our physical life. But some pursue it with so much vigour that they damage joints and tendons to such a degree that they must stop.

Balance between the emotions and the intellect is also important. Those who are extreme on the emotion side chronically make decisions which lead them into all kinds of problems because they didn’t think through the consequences. Those who favour the intellect may make more defensible decisions, but may well leave a trail of shattered relationships in their wake.

Balance in any area of life requires some effort. It takes some planning, and then some action. But it is always worth it.

For Reflection:

• How would a more balanced approach to some specific aspect of your life produce objective improvements?
• How would you describe the balance between the attention you pay to the physical aspects of life as opposed to the spiritual?