Too Many Balls in the Air? (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

It just looked too complicated. That’s why I put off learning to juggle.

It seems I always saw someone tossing several differently-shaped objects into the air, possibly while riding a unicycle, possibly exchanging those objects with another person riding a unicycle.

But that's not how real jugglers start out. They must first learn the craft; starting small, with two or three balls. Or better yet, with small bags that don't bounce away when they, inevitably, fall to the ground. Turns out, most people can learn to juggle three small, equally-sized objects. Of course, success is not automatic: it takes practice.

But it's not complicated.

The complicated stuff comes later ... much later. Jugglers must first become really good at getting those three, relatively small things to do as they should. They quickly realize: only after they master the beginner level should they consider taking on more complicated routines.

In this week's scriptures, the prophet Micah asks how someone shows proper respect to God. He asks if special, and increasingly difficult, sacrifices would be required to impress God. At stake? What kind of sacrifice would be big enough, dangerous enough, meaningful enough to cancel out a person's sin?

Micah already knows the answer, though, and it is surprisingly simple: "God has told you what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Sure, there are people —a few— who are called to do more complicated things in life. But that's not most of us. The challenge before most of us God-followers is this: to begin with a few, relatively simple actions, and to not skip the beginner level. That all-important beginner stage? To consistently act justly, to consistently be merciful, and to consistently walk humbly in God's presence, all at the same time.

Do you have too many balls in the air?

For most of us, God is only asking this: keep just those three balls circling. You may find, as have I, that there's plenty of challenge in that.

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PHOTO (Juggling for the Complete Klutz): https://www.amazon.com/Juggling-for-the-Complete-Klutz/dp/1591744482

A different version of this reflection appeared in January 2017 as Juggling for Dummies.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany (February 2, 2020)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=16

Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12

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I hope you can join us Friday morning at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We're still at Our Breakfast Place (formerly named the Waco "Egg and I") reading scripture, praying, eating, and laughing from 8:00 to 9:00. Usually we're in a room at the back of the building. If you're not sure, ask.

Jugglers welcome (but juggling not required).

Blessings,
Steve