Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:4
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, check a chasing after the wind.

Thought for the Day: In the Hindu Kath Upanishad it is written, “The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to salvation is hard.” The spiritual path is narrow and requires balance. Ecclesiastes reminds us that relentless pursuit of wealth is a shallow goal that ultimately has no spiritual payoff. In the verses just before this, we are admonished for being lazy. So it seems that in Ecclesiastes, as in the Kath Upanishad, we are being instructed that the middle ground is often the wisest spiritual path.

We have a lot of opportunities to find the middle ground in this country (and throughout the world). Yet, we remain polarized in ideologies and dogmas that are as unrelenting in their grip on us as we are in our quest for ever greater material gain. The sense of social justice that comes from a spiritual lifestyle is virtually lost. We have been divided into left and right, red and blue, vegetarian and carnivore, and we talk about the polar opposites so much that we forget there are many of us in the middle.

I like vegetables and meat! There are aspects of the Republican agenda (fiscal responsibility) I agree with. There are aspects of the Democratic agenda (social justice) I agree with. I think most of us are moderates. Yet, a media that attempts to divide us into neat little packages bombards us relentlessly. And we’re starting to believe them.

Being human is not a neat little package. It’s a messy process, full of mistakes and regret, yet also full of incredible discovery and joy that stirs the soul. I hope we can start to remember that compromise is not a four-letter word.

Prayer: Faithful God, guide me over the razor’s edge so that I might remain moderate in temperament, focused in spiritual study, and ever obedient to your command that we love each other and you, Eternal One, with all our hearts. Amen.