Everyone who is anybody has a hobby or at least entertains the idea. Hobbies range from sports to crafts to reading and even traveling. Some hobbies don’t make sense to me like collecting dead insects.

My long established hobby has earned me a membership in the POP (People Observing People) Culture. The rules specify that each member must swear not to divulge anything observed.

Being a minister, I’m not allowed to swear, so I am exempted from this rule.

I love to get a nice hot cup of coffee, a local newspaper and situate myself where I can see the most people in their natural environment. Nothing is more hilarious than observing people who don’t realize they are being watched.

Don’t get me wrong here, I love people. All sorts of people. I would never unduly make fun of anyone well almost anyone. Everybody has something about him or her interesting and worth observing.

One of my favorite authors, F. W. Boreham, made this observation: Leave your house early in the morning and the first person you meet take him or her aside and write their biography. Of course, the person will not conceive anything interesting about his or her life, and that’s the way most people are. We think everybody else is more interesting than our life.

The average person, in my opinion, leads a more interesting life than almost all celebrities, except for Elvis who is more popular dead than alive.

As an expert in the POP Culture, the most interesting thing about people can be summed up in one word: mistakes.

Mistakes are the common characteristics of all those addicted to oxygen. Other similarities exist among people, but this one thing supercedes culture, time, age and gender. Everybody at some time to some degree makes mistakes.

Two kinds of people populate our planet: those who admit their mistakes and those who don’t.

Now, a mistake is not just a mistake. There are categories and degrees of mistakes. Let me list a few categories and see which one fits into your lifestyle.

The first category would be, inaccuracies. It is easy to get something wrong when dealing with numbers, especially dialing telephone numbers. Not long ago my wife, who works as my secretary, dialed a number for me. I can’t remember now who we were trying to call, but I do remember who we really got.

My wife dialed the number and as soon as it started to ring, she handed the phone to me. When I put the receiver to my ear, I heard a sultry voice invite me to do things I had never considered before in my life.

Her words sent shockwaves down to the soles of my feet and back to the top of my head, only to repeat the procedure several times. I had heard of such things but I never heard it personally.

I immediately scowled at my wife and demanded, “What number did you dial?”

“I dialed the number you gave me,” she said rather flippantly.

“Okay,” I quipped, “listen to this.”

I handed the telephone back to her and watched her eyes explode and her mouth drop open. She quickly gave it back to me, but I didn’t want it either.

Inadvertently, she had dialed some phone sex number. We both went to the restroom to wash out our ears.

Another category, omission. This is where I get into a lot of trouble with my wife. It is not that I’m negligent but I do have the odd moment where certain bits of information are temporarily obscure from any immediate recall. Like when I go to the grocery store for my wife and get everything but what she sent me for in the first place.

How this happens befoggles my mind.

Misunderstanding represents another category. I really do not understand this one. I have been accused of misunderstanding some very simple instructions from You Know Who.

I sincerely miss my understanding but for now, I’ll simply overlook it.

Blunder is still another category of mistakes. In this group, the mistake is rather innocent. It might be a result of some tiny oversight. After all, nobody can see and remember everything.

If there were awards for blunders, I would have a shelf full of trophies.

The list can go on and on. However, my experience as a card-carrying member of the POP Culture brings me to the conclusion that the quintessential mistake is the faux pas. If anyone knows about mistakes, it is the French. Just saying it gives one the feeling of something tremendously special.

A faux pas is simply a mistake in a tuxedo.

A faux pas can cover any and all mistakes. A simple procedure is associated with this. When you realize that you’ve just committed a faux pas, place three fingers from your right hand, never your left and never four fingers although two will work fine, across your mouth while extending your pinky. Then giggle and say, “Oh, pardon my faux pas.” Then roll your eyes upward.

This is most useful when in heavy traffic and you’ve just cut in front of another driver. Your faux pas gesture will be immediately acknowledged by the driver in the car extending a solitary digit upwards. This is merely a friendly gesture recognizing your faux pas.

Of course, the superb response to every mistake is found in the Bible. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16 KJV.)

As someone once said, “confession is good for the soul.” Do a little soul-work this week.

The Reverend James L. Snyder is an award winning author whose writings have appeared in more than eighty periodicals including GUIDEPOSTS. In Pursuit of God: The Life of A. W. Tozer, Snyder’s first book, won the Reader’s Choice Award in 1992 by Christianity Today. Snyder has authored 8 books altogether.

Rev. James L. Snyder has a knack for making fun of daily frustrations and will increase the humor aptitude of your readers so they too can discover that life is less stressful when you’re laughing. Through these essays, your readers will realize that humor and religion belong together and can keep them from taking themselves and others too seriously.

“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:1-2).

Herod is a perfect instance of being ensnared by what he said: “…The daughter of Herodias…pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked” (Matthew 14:6,7). Herod was trapped by what he promised, and he regretted it later: “The king was distressed but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted…” (v.9). Because of a foolish oath made by a proud man, John lost his life. It would have been a far less sin if Herod broke his promise.

We should not promise what we cannot deliver. The Bible covers every occasion for every age, and this verse surely applies to credit cards. It is too easy to pull out our credit card when we want something (mea culpa!). We are putting up security for ourselves every time we go beyond our means with an innocent looking piece of plastic, so it’s best to cut it up and out if we are constantly tempted with this particular snare. And we surely are drowning when we borrow from one credit card to pay on another one!

Accumulating bills and obligations controls us so that, in our worry, we can serve neither God nor others. “…But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). It is wisdom to keep a rein on both finances and obligations before they get beyond us. We can live and die entangled in the cares of this world because we haven’t been prudent. We also bring reproach upon religion if we live and die in others’ debt.

This verse might also apply to appeals. Others ask us to do things for them that are beyond our time and means but, because we want others to like us, we have a difficult time saying no. It isn’t fair to them or us to say yes, and then be resentful. In a way, we have been dishonest when we take on more than we can possibly do or pay.

As for thinking we are doing others a favor by always doing for them, it is far better to teach someone how to fish than to be constantly supplying the fish for him/her. We don’t help others by making them dependent on us. Every age has its prodigals who would just as soon sit by and take everything you give. Prudence dictates just when we must quit pouring time and money down another’s bottomless pit.

Does this mean we can never become surety, or bail, for another? “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me…I will pay it back…” (Philemon 18,19). Martin Luther said of these verses: “Even as Christ did for us with God the Father, thus Paul also does for Onesimus with Philemon.” Of course there will be instances when our help will be needed. What is condemned is entanglement to the point of incapacitation. “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23).

Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend.
Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1.3:75.

Balance is essential for personal and professional growth. It enhances every important aspect of life.

In the words of Josephine Rathbone, “If we could learn how to balance rest against effort, calmness against strain, quiet against turmoil, we would assure ourselves of joy in living and psychological health for life.”

However, anyone with a hectic schedule and many responsibilities will agree that achieving balance is not as simple as wishing for it. It requires a plan.

Begin with Your Priorities

When seeking balance, we begin by asking, “What is most important at this time, and what needs to change?” The key is to make an intentional choice for a more balanced life, first by looking at what could be possible. When we are in balance, we feel as though we have that choice, that we are in “the driver’s seat”, and we can choose to see from new perspectives.

Some folks prefer “living in the fast lane”, enjoying the most active life possible. Others are at the point where they want to slow the pace, perhaps dedicate more time to their family, a personal calling, or life-long dream. Balance is unique for each individual.

We often talk about total-life balance: giving adequate attention to major life areas such as wellness, recreation, family, spirituality, and work. The balance Josephine Rathbone spoke of–rest against effort, calmness against strain, and quiet against turmoilis found everywhere in nature. It is essential for life to thrive, a life-giving balance. It is a balance concept that one can put to use immediately.

Balance Effort with Rest

We must make adequate effort toward our goals. However, without rest, we eventually loose progress and all life areas suffer. Likewise, someone who spends a long period of time not making any effort loses all sense of relaxation and begins to feel a sense of emptiness.

Give your goals all you’ve got today. Enjoy the sense of satisfaction that your efforts will bring to you. Then, after a period of effort, enjoy a moment of peace and relaxation. Before long, you’ll experience renewed energy and begin to receive new creative ideas and possibilities.

You will find that more life balance will result in more motivation, energy, and fulfillment. Best of all, it will increase your sense of happiness.

© Copyright 2006 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com