Spinning Plates

"Keep the plates spinning!"  Have you ever seen someone spin plates on poles and try to keep them going without crashing to the floor?  As I was driving to school one day last week, a similar picture came to my mind.  The plates were spinning around me as I nervously awaited a crash.  Then, as if God were quietly whispering to my heart, I was reminded of the importance of surrender and trust in His control.

When I found a spare moment later in the day, I quickly sketched a bunch of spinning plates above arms raised in surrender.  On each of the plates, I wrote one of the responsibilities that I have right now... everything from leading chapel band to caring for my car.  Needless to say, there is a lot demanding my time, thought, and emotional energy.

"Is your plate too full?"  We've all had at least one of those my-eyes-are-bigger-than-my-stomach moments where we loaded up our plates and then couldn't finish it all.  I wonder if sometimes -- okay, often! -- we do this in ministry.  We say "yes" a few too many times, pursue a few too many passions concurrently, feel obligated to please a few too many people.

But sometimes, we are just in a place where we are stretched to realize our limitations.  One person just can't keep so many plates spinning or balance plates that are so full!  At that point, I think God would say to us: "YES!  You got it!  No one can do it alone!"  Perhaps it takes a whole array of plates for us to realize our limitations and utter dependance on God.

So, I'm convicted.  I absolutely feel called to each of the spinning plates in my life right now, but I know that I'm not called to spin them myself.  The "relationship with Christ" plate ought to be my first priority, the one that informs how full I pile the others.

I was able to share these ideas with my small group this week, and they each made their own plate diagrams.  There's something about writing it all down -- and then relinquishing it to Christ, asking Him to use each plate to bring glory to Himself!

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  (Proverbs 19:21)