Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love to cook; I especially love to bake! For the past few months I've been looking for the "perfect" chocolate chip cookie recipe. For a few years I thought I was in possession of the "perfect" recipe I am now in search of. From my perspective, the "perfect" cookie is soft, a little poofy, but not cakey. I've been experimenting with recipes, oven temperatures, cooking time, and baking sheets. I have yet to find the "perfect" cookie but in the process realized that the "perfect" cookie requires balance. The ingredients, oven, temperature, and cooking time all affect the final product.
In our lives, balance is just as important. So often I have noticed in my own life and in the lives of my friends, an unequivocal imbalance. I think it's human nature to focus on one thing at a time. But why?! In different periods of my life I have been focused on school, career, family, or a social life. I have found times when I lean more to works or faith.
There are extremes in anything. Extreme diets end in unhealthy eating habits, potentially binging. Extreme perspectives in political agendas may help to initiate change but once the goal is obtained, pushes the agenda further than originally desired. Even devoting all of one's time to the church negates the responsibility of family and community. Extremes aren't healthy. I have most recently seen the effects of extreme beliefs and actions have on the unhealthy lifestyle of the individual. The sad reality is that once we become extreme in mindset, it is difficult to accept or view reality. We become enveloped in beliefs which isolate us from the norm.
Even in the small things it is important to maintain balance. The most important thing in my life is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ was a balanced leader. He is my exemplar! In order to maintain balance I need to begin each day by acknowledging His influence in my life. And in the process He can help me to balance family, friends, career, education, community, and church.