Life is a circus.
Some days are just the calm before the storm. Dawn has yet to break the horizon, the big top is empty, and the animals are beginning to wake from their slumber.
Then there are days when every moment seems to be spent on sweeping the floors and shoveling out the elephant stalls.
Then there is today. Riding a unicycle on a tight rope without a net, over three rings of roaring tigers, dancing bears and of course, clowns . . . lots of clowns. As the crowd screams, anticipating some grand gesture, I try to catch a trapeze swing to gracefully pass from one task to another, if that were only possible.
It is said that you cannot think two thoughts at the same time, nor serve two masters.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Mathew 6:24
The other “master-wanna-be-s” pull me further away from the Master I choose to serve, the Almighty God. With clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, I take a deep cleansing breath and pray the name of “Jesus”. I instantly see the craziness through calmed eyes. The incessant whining fades to a bearable level. I step outside the big top to see the sun is just as bright and the air is just as clear.
I need to keep my eyes on Jesus, not just for direction but also for empowerment. He will not lead you to a place that He has not equipped you to go. The challenge is keeping my heart in tune with God when the world tries to direct me away.
When circus folk surround me, I lose sight of The Ringmaster. I need to keep my focus on Him and the trained monkeys seem to scatter.
“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:17-18
Peace like a river.
I long to dive in and float down that river.
Stay focused
And Be Blessed in Great Measure
