What In The Dickens!
G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “I wonder what in the dickens I shall write about; I am not the Dickens who could write about anything” (Chesterton, On Being Moved, Lunacy and Letters 1958). I have hit upon the same puzzle, what shall I write about? Shall I continue with the witty lunacy of my thoughts or task myself with a topic deep and difficult? Might I find a balance between the two?
There’s a word I run from, balance. As in the balance referring to balancing your life. While I do enjoy a steady and stable life, a little chaos sometimes provides some color to living too. What I do wrong is go gangbusters at both at whatever times fancy my whim. One Sunday, I might be sincerely worshiping in church in the morning and partying at a football game by afternoon. Nothing really wrong with this other than maybe the timing. Some conservatives might find it offensive on any occasion. In my defense I say what in the dickens is wrong with partying? God created fun and Jesus loved a party!
Let’s talk about diets, used to be just us ladies but now the gentlemen enjoy the torture too. How many of us go all-out at first and then the lure of the dessert or that extra helping of meat and potatoes smothered in gravy— well, enough said. Is it beyond us to balance the diet and stay on track? I am sure it’s laughable for most of us to get that perfect balance of fruits, veggies, grains, protein, and dairy. Where in the dickens is my good balanced diet?
On to sports, have we lost balance there? I am a sports fantasy addict; I think it is my innate competitiveness from being number eight of nine siblings. I just simply enjoy competing in every sport electronically, since I cannot physically. What about sports overall? NFL Football is a 226 billion industry, NBA basketball 165 billion, international soccer 30 billion, international baseball 15 billion, etc., etc. Is there life balance between sports and the larger community ecosystem? Remember, we are talking games here! Yes, games, the global video game industry revenue is estimated at nearly $455 billion. Estimates are projecting it will reach $321 billion by 2026. Where in the dickens is our entertainment balance?
“All things bright and beautiful, All Creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.” This quote is from an 1848 poem, Hymns for Little Children by Cecil Frances Alexander. It inspired James Herriot’s classic three book collection: All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, and All Things Wise and Wonderful. His depictions of his life as a rural veterinarian are often witty, charming, and comical and give the reader emotional ties that bind us to the natural world. May we find a perfect balance that only nature can create? The low moo of the dairy cow amid the chattering of the squirrel up on the tree limb above his head. The quiet of a windswept wheat field at dawn, set against the cacophony of geese flying south in the winter. The arctic blast of the northeast in the dead of January, pit against the beauty of snow-covered pines. The cruel transformation of summer lost to a fall that ultimately astounds us with the vibrant colors of the fall leaves. Where in the dickens did this come from?
In the end, balance isn’t a destination, it’s a journey shaped by our choices, our quirks, and the unpredictable rhythms of life. Whether we’re chasing health goals, reveling in sports, savoring the beauty of nature, or simply navigating the chaos of daily routines, true balance is found not in perfection, but in the willingness to embrace both order and spontaneity. So, what in the dickens is balance? Perhaps it’s the art of living fully—finding meaning in the mix, joy in the jumble, and peace in the paradox. The story may not always make sense, but it’s ours to write, one unbalanced, unforgettable moment at a time.
