The priest paused for a moment to take in the faces of those seated closer to the front.
He closed his eyes and placed his hand over his chest. "Eternal balance is not about living without challenges; it's about living with alignment. Scripture reminds us that we are not called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
These two commands are the pillars of balance: one vertical, connecting us to God, and one horizontal, connecting us to others. When either pillar is neglected, our spiritual life tilts. Too much focus on personal devotion without service can make our faith self-contained.
Too much focus on service without renewal can leave us drained. True eternal balance is found when devotion fuels service, and service deepens devotion."
