Only two births during the Churchís liturgical year are assigned the highest level of solemnity: that of Jesus and John the Baptist. We know Jesus is the model for how we should lead our lives, but what about John the Baptist? Since John is closely associated with Jesus in Scriptures, the way John lived his life tells us something about how we should live our lives.

There is one thing the Baptist said which I use to tell the Good News to others. Let me introduce Johnís words by telling you a story of how I told them to my friend Macóonly his name is fictitious.

After knowing Mac for many years, he told me that he is an alcoholic. He attends Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, which like other recovery programs, is built on 12-steps. One of the steps to stop drinking is to make "a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of God."

Mac did this 11 years ago and has been sober since. Although Mac is still learning about who God is, Mac has learned that he canít remain sober when he is in control by himselfóhe needs Godís help. Mac now helps others and he recently told me of an acquaintance in his AA group who talks religion but canít walk the talk when it comes to letting God be in control. Consequently, his acquaintance remains a drinking alcoholic.

I told Mac my favorite words, which John the Baptist used to describe Jesus: "He must increase; I must decrease." These words describe what Mac is doing and what his acquaintance is trying to do. They are at different stages in establishing balance between personal control and Godís control of their lives

All of us must let go of being in total control of our own lives and realize that God is the one who is really in control. This is not easy to do because God gave us a brain and expects us to control some things in our lives. The question becomes: what things?

Balance can go out of control when we allow our job to consume our lives. This can happen to anyone from the top to the bottom of a company. I have a different friend who is such a workaholic that he admitted to me that he hadnít experienced his children growing up. Oneís family must come before oneís job. Again, we must search for the right balance. A family needs some income, but how much? God isnít interested in how much we earn, but he is interested in how we balance our time between job and family.

No matter how much some people earn, they donít seem to be able to fill their desires for material goods. These goods can become the gods they really worship. We need to establish balance between what we need to live and what is simply excessóthat which could be used to help those poorer than we.

A few years ago, my wife and I had a large home that was consuming our money and time. To spend more time serving God, we realized that we had to downsize. This was difficult and took three years to actually do. We had to reach the right balance between God and home. We are extremely happy with our decision.

Getting the right balance can also be hard for children and young adults. How do they balance their time between God, family, education, sports, etc.? If sports are interfering with church, there is something wrong with this picture.

Where are we in our balancing acts? John the Baptist gave us the guideline we need to know: God must increase; we must decrease.

At death, we lose total control of our lives and God takes complete control. We must work to bridge the gap from where we are now to where we will be. The gap will close, either slowly or all at once.