spinner.jpg“All I ever have to be, is what you made me. Any more or less would be a step out of your plan.” – Amy Grant

One of my favorite analogies is that of the “guy spinning plates”. We’ve all seen him before. Just like the picture, he’s got these long wooden poles and a bunch of plates. He starts with one, then another and another, each one spinning. Just when he gets them all going, he goes back to the first one and speeds it up before it falls, then the next and so on. But sooner or later, miss one step and they all start to fall.

Ever felt like that? Plate #1 = be like Christ. Plate #2 = be a good father. Plate #3 = Be a good husband. Plate #4 = Friend. Plate #5 = co-worker. One by one, we keep adding plates. Just when we think we have them all going, we might need to go back and put some more attention to one, then the others. Sooner or later, we have to stop adding plates, or they are all going to start to spin out of control a bit. Each one needs just the right amount of attention and time.

Ironically enough, as I was loading the dishwasher tonight (no lie), I was reminded of this old song by Amy Grant. I was reminded that all I ever have to be is what God wired me to be. If I add more plates, or don’t add enough, I am missing my mark. The song says “as you DAILY re-create me help me always keep in mind, that I only have to do what I can find”. Each day is a new opportunity to spin the plates we are given for that day. Each one will require our attention, each one needs our care. Nothing more, nothing less.

All we have to be, is what he made us to be. Even if it means “spinning plates”.

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