When a new concept is introduced, I find it helpful when a framework for understanding is shared as well. In education, discussions are likely to use the term “scaffolding” where a teacher builds upon existing knowledge in order to deepen or increase a student’s understanding of an idea. In the undergraduate days at Union decades ago (even though we aren’t that old), Dr. Ann Singleton shared with students the importance of a “hook and bridge” in lesson planning, allowing connections to previous learning to be made. So, in my attempt to explain my thoughts on the flourishing continuum, my desire is to provide visual, common representations that might assist if you opt to join me on this journey.

Initially when brainstorming the best analogy to explain the continuum, my brain brought forth images of the Scales of Justice where adding or removing items from either side tilt the scales or help to maintain balance. But since most of my friends don’t have the Scales of Justice sitting on a shelf in their living room, I mulled other options…a see-saw on a playground, especially if you ever dared to stand in the middle and shift your weight from the right foot to the left in efforts to level the see-saw solo. Not bad! Or how about an analog bathroom scale where we watch the needle continue to move increasingly to the right? Most people have challenged that needle removing articles of clothing or lifting their left foot to watch the needle creep back to the left. A similar concept was experienced this week as I attempted to heed the Jeep’s dashboard warning to add air to the rear tires. The gauge needle would move to the right just where I aimed to stop at 36 PSI; however, by the time the air pressure registered with the computers in the SUV, I had added too much. Deflate. Add. Deflate. Finally giving up with an expression, “Good enough!” (Dad will understand this statement). Or, lastly, consider the level bubble in the old thermostats…saw enough of those in my life as the daughter of a HVAC man.

Even after pondering these valid descriptors, the best analogy to understand the flourishing to floundering to failing continuum was discovered in the kitchen pantry and one of the best inventions of all time, the food storage bag with a sliding closure. Let’s see if I can offer a picture that allows you a glimpse into the unusual way my mind works. Picture yourself holding a bag containing delicious strawberries, grapes, and pineapples (or if you splurge on brand names such as Hefty Gallon Bags rather than saving one cent on the store brand, just look on the box). If the slider clicks closed with a zipping sound (has to be Hefty – that’s their claim on the packaging), no air will be allowed in, your fruit stays fresh, and no juice is allowed to escape. Flourishing! Now, image that slider moved slightly to the right so that when you place the bag on the kitchen counter, oops, spillage. That spillage equates to floundering because not only have you made a slight mess in need of cleaning, but air has entered which leads to food spoilage. Follow so far? I bet you see where this imagery travels next. Craving the sweet taste of those cold, fruit delights, you reach into the refrigerator only to discover that someone didn’t wait to hear that clicking, zipping sound and now sticky fruit pieces and all their juice has managed to splash onto every item in the refrigerator, down the door and onto the freshly cleaned tile, soaking your Gain-scented white socks. Failure!

In our lifespan of personal and professional experiences, we will have encounters that move that food storage bag slider all the way from the far left to far right; however, I would speculate that most experiences are somewhere in the middle where the slider has made the zipping sound but failed to click closed. As a frequent traveler, the use of gallon bags is a necessity and if that bag contains shampoo that could soak into every piece of clothing in my luggage, you better be sure I’m listening for that click! Dirty clothes- a zip is sufficient.

Now, let’s go one step further and compare the various domains of your life to separate storage bags. Some days you are diligent about hearing that click, your Spiritual Life bag has been prioritized and been meticulously packed. Other days, your Physical Health bag remains slightly open, allowing air in (not detrimental, but not optimal either). The reality is that most Americans are juggling multiple domains/bags each day and the slider is bumped all along the ridged track and will fluctuate along the continuum regularly, but the desired outcome of a flourishing life is one where at the end of our life when we are preparing to enter our Heavenly home, we can glance into the rearview mirror and witness examples of where we were intentional about feeling the zip and hearing the click. A flourishing life lived in the balance meant we invested relational equity in others when it mattered most and allowed the insignificant issues to spoil and be tossed away in the garbage.

An unusual thought process, I know; but I welcome other images that arise when you contemplate a life lived along the flourishing continuum. Please feel free to add your thoughts in the comments below and join me in thinking “flourishing – floundering, flourishing-floundering” every time you slide that storage bag closed! You’re welcome!