The first thing I was taught when learning to juggle: Start with “balls” that don’t bounce.
That's how real jugglers start out. Long before they juggle complicated things—like pins or chainsaws—they must first learn the craft. They start small, with two or three balls. Preferably, those “balls” are actually small stuffed bags that don't bounce away when they—inevitably—fall to the ground.
Most people can learn to juggle three small, same-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. In short: Don't have too many balls in the air. The more complicated routines must wait until after mastering the beginner level.
In a way, this week's Micah selection is also about juggling. He asks the reader to consider how someone shows proper respect to God. Are special, increasingly difficult, sacrifices required to impress God? What kind of sacrifice would be big enough, dangerous enough, meaningful enough to cancel out a person's sin?
Micah already knows the surprisingly simple answer and quickly reveals it: Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
See? Not complicated.
Sure, there are people—a very 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.
Do you have too many balls in the air?
For most of us, God is only asking this: Keep just those three in motion, all at the same time. To consistently: act justly, be merciful, and walk humbly in God's presence.
You may find, as have I, that there's plenty of challenge in that.
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PHOTO: Adobe Express filtered through Photoshop Express
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I hope you can join us Friday morning at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We're on Zoom* and at Our Breakfast Place reading scripture, praying, eating, and laughing from 8:00 to 9:00.
No chainsaws will be juggled at this gathering. Seriously, leave them in your trunks.
Blessings,
Steve
*Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=17134&z=e&d=16
Print them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Ax_FourthSundayafterEpiphany.pdf
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12
Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany (February 1, 2026)
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