I'm struggling this morning with a lot on my mind. There are unfinished things on my desk. There are uncompleted tasks on my task list (yes, I make lists so that I won't forget things. I am past 40!) There are so many important things I want to accomplish that I can't get to them fast enough. There are others depending on me. There are even more who are demanding my time. But there are not enough hours in the day, not enough days in the week.
I've always done okay on tests when I was in school, most of the time. They were never great stressors, just simply another hurdles on the path to get over. But this is a different kind of test. It's one that is checking my faith, my leadership, my resolve. I think God is testing me to see just what I can handle.
It's like spinning plates.
This dates me somewhat because if you're less than 30, you probably have no idea what that is! Many of you have seen plate spinners on TV, those long wooden poles on top of the table and at the top of each pole is a plate, spinning like a top. I've always wondered how they did that. I can't even get a frisbee to spin on my finger (I can do a better job with a basketball.). But a few years ago I realized that life can sometimes be like spinning plates. Each one important to keep rotating, nurturing each one carefully making sure none get neglected or CRASH!
"Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life."(James 1:12, The Message)
Ever spin a plate? We do it all the time. The challenges come when we are asked to spin our limit. Taking on one too many (or two or three) and more than one can fall. The other side of this is if you only spinning one and the rest of the plates are just sitting, waiting. Sure it's easy to just spin one at a time, but most of us have the skill and gifts to spin several.
The life Christ is calling us to is to be somewhere near our maximum, not minimum; to find our groove; to get in on the action of Christ and not be a spectator watching others spin. Today, I'm going to keep some plates spinning and set some aside. There are some I've been spinning that don't have my name on them. I'll be passing them on to those whose names are revealed, because I want others to know the joy of action in the Kingdom of God.
"But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God - the free life! - even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action." (James 1:25, The Message)
Keep 'em spinning (but watch the one on the end. It's looking wobbly!)
Peace ><>
PC
2 comments:
Ahhh....you have revealed to us that there is more to the notion of "passing the plate". We normally think of our monetary gifts that we give when we "pass the plate" during service..but you are revealing to us that we are all one body...the body of christ..each have a function within that body and we can't be all parts of the body...we need to know when to pass the plate so that someone else knows the glory of being part of the body of Christ!
You know, a previous employer used to tell me I wasn't spinning enough plates, and when I did, I wasn't spinning them well. Thank you for the positive outlook on spinning plates...
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