Alright, you may be thinking at this moment that this is a strange title. The logical and the emotional, what do they have in common? Not much, except that they both need to be balanced.
This subject has been the object of much thought for me. Who can deny that they've never been driven by emotion (anger, love, and frustration chief among them)? And who can say that they've never thought through something logically (I'm hungry, therefore I should eat something)? Everyone uses logic, and everyone has emotion. And most people would agree that women are generally more "emotional" than men, and men more logical than women. And there lies the example for what I believe, that there must be a balance of the emotional and of the logical. The man and woman balance each other out, balancing the logical and emotional. The mind and soul must be "in harmony" so to say.
Let me give some examples. Let's start with Annie. Annie has been hurt by a close friend. Her friend spread a bad rumor about her in school-at least that's what Charlotte said. Instead of stopping and thinking about how such a good friend could do something so mean, she is driven by anger and spreads a vicious rumor about Annie. When her friend comes up to her and asks why she did, Annie explains. It's then that Annie finds out that Lucy never said anything bad about her. It was someone completely different.
Annie was driven by emotion, and refused to think logically because that would mean letting go of her anger and hurt, at least to the degree of not letting it drive her. Her friendship with Lucy suffered because of it, and many apologies and explanations followed.
Now, let's look at a completely different example of someone who stopped and worked through their emotions. Jamael lives in a shabby neighborhood in Detroit. Gang wars are rampant through the area. One day he hears the pop, pop, pop of shotguns going off in the distance. He doesn't think much of it until his friend comes hopping up to his house with a bloody leg (he was shot) screaming that Peter's been killed. Peter is Jamael's younger brother. Although the police investigate the shooting, they can't pin down the murderer. Jamael knows who it is, though. And he's going to get his revenge. He manages to procure a gun, and plans for the day he'll shoot Fat Louie, one of the gang leaders involved in the shooting. One night, he finds himself crouched behind some crates, taking aim at Fat Louie, ready to pull the trigger. Then he stops, he starts to think about what he's doing. He hears his little brother talking about his dream to become a pro football player. he imagines his own life in jail, which is where he would most likely end up if he pulled the trigger. Slowly he backs away, controlling his anger and listening to reason. Jamael went on to graduate from high school-no easy feat in the neighborhood he lived. He went to college and became a talented football star, like his little brother wanted to do. Just imagine what his life would have been if he let emotion overtake him?
Jason stands before Kate's house. He had decided to ask her out to prom, and tonight was the night he needed to do it. He nervously paces, flowers in hand. He really likes her, she's exactly the kind of girl he could imagine marrying someday. She's sweet, pretty, kind, and funny. His mind begins to take over. He sees himself getting rejected. Why would she want to go out with him? He's no one special. He's not even that good-looking. Finally he trudges away, giving up his chance. Kate goes to prom with Steve, a close friend. Years later, when Jason runs across her in a n airport, he finds out she married Steve and they'd had two kids. After talking with her for awhile he tells her he almost asked her out to prom. And she shocks him by saying she wishes he had, because she had a huge crush on him back then.
Jason let reason get in the way of emotion. By reasoning, he let fear creep in and take over. Instead of saying "okay, I like this girl, she's nice, I might as well ask her", he let further thoughts crowd out the first.
During the days of Napoleon Wars there was a man who served in Napoleon Bonaparte's army. Now things weren't going well for the army, hunger and disease was rampant. The young man decided to desert, to return to his mother and the simple life he'd left behind. However, he was caught and found guilty of desertion. He was to be hanged in a couple days. His mother, who lived nearby, heard about his hanging; in a desperate act to save her son she sought out Napoleon himself and begged for her son's life. Napoleon simply looked at her and said, "You're son doesn't deserve mercy."
She responded softly, "No, but he could use it."
Napoleon was moved by the mother's pleas and pardoned the son, even though reason was all against it. He let a little emotion creep in, pity, mercy, kindness-call it what you will-and it saved a young man's life. Later on, shockingly, that same man saved Napoleon's life in battle.
A husband and wife help each other out, they balance one another. The man reigns over the house because of the wisdom, reason, and steadiness he brings it. A wife is a helpmate to the husband, providing the salt that the potatoes need. She brings the creativity, gentleness, comfort, and lightness every house needs. And as Smith Wigglsworth once said, "'The woman is the thermomater of the household' is a true saying. For example, if your wife is in a bad mood, the rest of the members will end up having a negative attitude. On the other hand, if your wife is cheerful, regardless of how else you feel, everything seems more upbeat." I put that in there because I thought it was funny. I think it's true, haha.
And so, I hope that those who read this realize that there is a balance that needs to be found between being emotional and logical. Anger and frustration, and sometimes even love, need to be controlled. Along with other emotions; like fear, distrust, and pride. Also, emotion is a good thing if used rightly. Love, hope, joy, and peace. Reason is a good thing, it's often needed. However, be sure you don't let reason rule your life. Sometimes God calls us to do things that make no logical sense, that have no reason. We have to trust him, and find that balance that is so worth finding.