It is HOT today.  The kind of hot that can do damage.  So, I just went out for a short, 2 mile walk before the full sun of the day.  Still, even in the early morning, it was very hot.  I was thinking as I was walking about how my husband likes to repeat the advice he heard once from a stand-up comic:  at some time in your life, everyone should have the chance to live in a place where the winter can kill you.  It is funny, but today I was thinking about the reverse.  Should everyone have a chance to live in a place where the summer can kill you?

Thinking about such advice made me think about moderation.  It seems our environment itself is trying to teach us the lessons of moderation.  A little cold, snow and ice are OK and sometimes necessary, but a lot of it can do damage.  A little sun, heat and humidity are OK and sometimes necessary, but a lot can do damage.  A little rain and thunder are OK and very necessary, but a lot can do damage.  A little fire is a good and necessary thing but, out of control, a lot can do severe damage.  So, the watchword is moderation.

While we have little control over the natural elements, we do have control over the decisions that affect our lives.  So, perhaps we should ask ourselves:  How moderate are we?  How moderate are we in our eating habits?  Exercise habits? Working? or Playing?  How moderate are we in our desire for time alone, or our desire to be with people?

In every aspect of our lives the simple concept of moderation could save us from doing real damage to ourselves.  Our struggle for moderation can bring us nothing but grace.