A balanced life is overrated

Where did the idea of a balanced life come from? People try so hard to obtain it. We get this notion that our time should be divided up like a pie--five days a week for work, two days for play, so many hours of exercise, so many weeks of vacation etc... 

Years ago I had a steady job with a 35-hour work week, six weeks of vacation per year, plus it paid relatively well at $65K. That job even took care of my retirement with a pension plan that doubled my contribution every month. It was a dream job as far as balance was concerned. But it didn't provide the kind of bliss that a balanced life promises. In fact, everyday was so predictable and life required so little faith and will power that I was wilting inside.  

Sometimes a balanced life means giving up life passions; other times trying to get a balanced life actually produces more stress than just going with the flow. Interesting enough, the heros of faith in Scripture didn't seem to have balanced lives. That alone should cause Christians today to reconsider the current ideal of  balance.  It is not the Promised land.  

The Promised Land can only be entered by following God's call, going after Him no matter how life turns upside down or inside out. A balancing act simply can't make us blossom inside like answering God's call can.