Plate Spinning

I've been thinking lately about the pace of life. More precisely, the pace of my life!!! Some of you remember going to a circus and watching a performer running around like crazy spinning plates. No sooner does he get one spinning when another begins to wobble. By the end of the act the performer was breathless and so was the audience.

That plate spinning is a metaphor for life. Run fast, spin the plate, correct the wobble, run faster, spin some more plates, correct the wobble, run, spin ...aaah!!!

That's not the way I want to live. This fall we're going to start a series both on Wednesday and Sunday morning called ..Living inSanity. It's a great play on words one of our staff members came up with. How do we want to live? Insanely? or In sanity?

The pace of my life is the result of my decisions for the most part. I am the author of my living insanity. I crowd my calendar, get involved with too much, don't say 'no'. The problem with this insanity is that I end up edging out the relationships and responsibilities that breathe life into my soul. That's not the way I want to live.

Stephen Covey once said, "You will never be able to say 'no' until there is a greater 'yes' burning inside of you."
I need to rediscover my 'yes'.
Yes to the Lord
Yes to my divine assignment.
Yes to my primary relationships.
Yes to my calling.
Yes to sabbath rest.
Yes to leisurely dinners.
Yes to exercise.
Yes to 'reading stuff'' just for the fun of it, not to prepare for a presentation I'm giving.
Yes to adventure.

What about you? What do you need to say 'yes' to. What will bring life into your heart and soul? If you don't say 'yes' to something noble be prepared to live a 'plate spinners' life. You'll run hard, you'll spin like crazy, you'll wobble, run some more ...and then one day all your plates come crashing down. Learn to say 'yes' to what's really important and you'll find it much easier to say 'no' to that which is unimportant.

Life isn't about plate spinning. Not at all. Sane living starts with a clear focus on what's important. My growing desire is for what author Mark Buchanan calls 'the rest of God'. I want more of the Lord. He promises to give me 'rest'. For a recovering, tired plate spinner that's incredibly good news.
How do you want to live life. Insanely? In sanity?
What do you need to say 'yes' to? Start by praying for the 'rest of God'.

Blessings,
Mike