Living "Whelmed"

My sweet boyfriend shared with me a concept from a book he was reading. He said, "A good book I read said that being overwhelmed is bad, but so is being underwhelmed. The secret is to find a balance. Be whelmed."

I loved this idea because I feel that I am too often overwhelmed or underwhelmed. More often than not, I bring these states upon myself. I have filled my closet with many hats. That is, I have many roles. I am first a child of God, which means that I am called to live a life of worship and sacrifice, serving others, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a daughter and a sister, and I have a duty to serve my family. I am a friend and a sister in Christ, called to encourage others around me. I am a student in college where I serve on the leadership team of one of the Christian groups. I am a member of my local church, and now, I am adding the role of "writer" to this list.

All of these roles demand my time and attention. It's easy for me to fall into the trap of busyness. Yet, the culture of self-love tells me that I "deserve a break." So how does an active college student create a life where she is "whelmed"? I think that the first step is to seek true rest in God alone. It is God who leads me by still waters and restores my soul (see Psalm 23). Refreshing my spirit in the presence of God will give me the energy and strength to wear my many hats. Still more, trusting that God's love for me is unfailing, I can have faith that sometimes it's okay to take off a hat or two in order to put forth full effort in those things which have eternal significance.