grasp one and not let go of the other

Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?

Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?

It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
The person who fears God will avoid all extremes

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18

I really wish I could say I follow this prescription for prudent living. While I do believe this past year or so has been a deep and painful process of integrating belief with living, the journey's only just begun. It is like the blasted election all over again, where only two ways seemed present-- either a war in Iraq or one in Afghanistan, more tax dollars in the pockets of the reprehensible either way.

I look into the future and it seems I only have two options: become a woman who is an orthodox Christian, who hates abortion, who teaches her own children, who is devoted to her husband or a woman who is ecumenical, who defends the rights of women, who serves the poor with her own hands, who defends the creation around her.

And the forces of my life push, push, push me in one direction or the other and it seems no one wants to see someone standing in between these things; can't I be a woman who is equally disgusted by gender-based wage disparities and FOCA? Can't I be a woman who homeschools her kids and still believes in free education for all children? Can't I welcome in the illegal alien without wanting to read the constitution as a document that can bend in the wind of our desires?

It is encouraging to know there are many other young, Christian people trying to grasp one thing without letting go of the other. And it isn't out of some cheesy "don't label me" sentiment-- I am truly trying to hold onto the goodness in one thing without compromising another.