So much of what we get out of life depends on our attitude. When we play golf and have a bad round, about half the time I hear myself and others blaming the conditions or the company rather than themselves for a bad score. This often happens because we expect too much of ourselves or our ability and rather than looking at ourselves we look for excuses. Accepting responsibility for our own score is one step towards becoming a better player.

Our reading is very realistic about what lies in the depths of our hearts. Do not pay attention to every word people say, our author says, because we know there are times and many of them when we say and think things we regret.

Much of our reading today is acknowledging the weakness of the extremes in our life. A righteous person can easily slip into self righteousness and lose the joy and spontaneity of life. In a similar way a wicked person uncontrolled can delve into depths of despair or commit some crime he will later regret. This is not though an affirmation of a middle ground that lacks any convictions nor goes anywhere, but in our lack of answers to life, our best resting place is simply to fear God.

So much of the book of Ecclesiastes and wisdom is about having balance in life. I have house loan at present and I try to put every bit of extra cash towards the loan, but sometimes I lose sight of the fact that life is to be enjoyed every day and I may not live to enjoy a freedom from debt that is about 5 years away.

Having a balance in all things helps us to avoid the extremes where we are all capable to going. Having a balance between food and exercise, a balance between buying and giving, between work and leisure, a balance between family and golf and so on is important.

Jesus was accused of being a party goer and a sinner for mixing with the outcasts of society. Jesus was rejected mainly by those who saw themselves as upholding the law. It was not that Jesus broke any great laws, but that he had a healthy balance in life where he was able to represent God on the one hand, and on the other, help the broken to find life and to enjoy life.

So to be wise is to acknowledge the weakness of our extremes, not take to heart everything people say to us and have a healthy balance in life.

Prayer.  Loving God, help me to be seen to be enjoying life and having balance in all things. Amen.