Mid-Life Philosophy--28

Finding a Balance

As a teenager, I had a teacher who talked about truth and balance. He said there are extremes to any position, but the truth found in the gospel of Jesus Christ is usually a balance in the middle. The example he gave that I remember was of chauvinism on one side, feminism on the other side, and true equality in the middle.

I have used this idea for greater understanding on a number of issues. Today I was thinking about it because my daughter was watching the movie The Lorax. It is based on a story by Dr. Seuss, but there was some artistic license taken in order to get a children's book into a feature-length film. I started thinking about environmentalism and exploitation, extremes and balance. I majored in natural resource management. I considered it a green degree before anyone had coined the phrase green degree. I was green before it was cool. (I was like a hippie hipster.)

My reason for choosing this degree is found in the Doctrine and Covenants. After listing some of the many ways we can use the earth God created for us, it says, "And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion."

I know I said at the beginning of my philosophies that I wasn't going to be quoting a lot. I made an exception. This scripture is a pretty big deal to me because I used it to choose a major. I felt like, at that time, there were extremists in the environmental movement--those who would place the worth of a small insect or bird above the needs of human beings. And of course, there are extremists in development and exploitation of the earth's natural resources. I feel like the best way is a balance: to use the earth, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion. We need to accept that some development is necessary for human life but it's best to develop in a way that is least disruptive to the natural ecosystems.

That is just one example of the ways that I try to find balance between extremes. It's my way of seeking wisdom.