Doesn't it just drive you CRAZY??? I don't know how I manage to do it, but if there is one cart in a 1,000 that has a "crazy wheel" I am destined to find it. It completely makes me insane. Of course, I don't realize it until I am half way across the store, or have it half loaded.
Some of you know that this past year has been a little funky for me. I described it last night like I was trying to function with a crazy wheel. Due to the weakness in the right side I have to work a little harder to make it function with the rest of my body.

Anyway....it occured to me this morning that much like a shopping cart (or a nerve damaged body!), when our life gets out of balance there are issues that arise. You may be headed in one direction, but it takes all the strength you have to keep it on path. Your goal is now just keeping the cart straight and not on the purpose for the trip or the task at hand. Sometimes the struggle with the cart makes you just want to drop what you are doing and completely call it quits. You get distracted. Ever see abandoned carts in the middle of the store? Marriages, ministries and families can often get caught up in an unbalanced situation. It seems the harder we try to make it work the worse things seem. There are abandoned marriages, dreams and ministries scattered all around us. It just became to difficult.

Many times the inbalance does not become apparent until there is a "full load". With the added pressure, the imbalance comes in to focus. I have also often noticed that occasionally I get the cart and may notice a little pull. Whith a quick jerk it seems to be ok so I think it is quite manageable. However, as the pressure loads the harder it gets to control the cart. What once took a small jerk to control, now takes all my strength. Seemingly small sins are like that. At first, we can control them. However, as life goes on and the pressure/burdens grow so does the problem. Proper balance is essential to finishing the task at hand and to enjoying the journey along the way.

How thankful I am that I serve a God who will help me find the balance! He loves me enough to help me find the "crazy wheel" in my life if I will only look to Him and obey what He has given me to do.

James 1:25 -"But the one who keeps looking into God's perfect Law and does not forget it will do what it says and be happy as he does it. God's word makes men free." NLV

His word gives the balance we need. It lovingly pulls our life into alignment when we allow His Holy Spirit to do His work in us. We are then free from the "crazy wheels" that make life more difficult to navigate and distract us from the goal.