I recently watched the movie A Complete Unknown, based loosely off Bob Dylan’s early career. Towards the end, there was one specific line that stuck out to me. Sylvie Russo (a character based on his real love interest, Suze Rotolo) compares Bob Dylan to a plate juggler.
“It was fun to be on the carnival train with you, Bobby. But I think I gotta step off now… I feel like one of those plates, you know, that the French guy spins on those sticks. On the Sullivan show.”
His life was in constant motion. Always spinning, never stopping and everyone watching, waiting for him to drop a plate.
You don’t have to be a famous singer to relate to this metaphor. If we are honest, we’ve probably all felt this way sometime in our life. We can say “yes” to too many things, enroll our kids in every sport, volunteer, go back to school, and try to do it all. Before we know it, we are stretched so thin that the plates fall and shatter.
A plate juggler requires a lot of practice, skill and concentration to keep multiple plates spinning simultaneously without them falling.
God didn’t create us to be plate jugglers.
A lot of the time there are plates that we don’t need to be juggling in the first place.
I can relate to Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Jesus comes to visit Mary and Martha at their home. While Mary is sitting at his feet, listening intently to his teachings, Martha is in the kitchen. She is overwhelmed and stressed by all the preparations to host.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41 NIV)
Out of all the plates you are spinning, which ones are giving you spiritual nourishment?
Like Martha, we can get too focused on things that don’t matter. Maybe we are people pleasers, and say yes to things we don’t have time for. Or maybe we are more concerned about appearances and because everyone else is doing it, you think you have to, too.
And maybe, we take on too much on purpose, because then we wouldn’t have to stop and think about what is going on in our heart.
Constantly spinning with no time to sit at Jesus’ feet is a recipe for disaster.
I know when I have a lot of things I’ve committed to, I end up feeling tired, stressed and unable to be fully present.
I have to put a plate down, so I don’t get emotionally or physically burned out.
Are there any plates you can stop spinning and hand over to God?
Some of us might be in a season with responsibilities and roles where honestly, you have no plates you can put down. You feel like your only option is to keep spinning.
For those of you who are in that season:
-The new mom
-High school senior
-Caretaker of an aging parent
-Med student
-A new business owner.
Etc…
The juggle is real.
You HAVE to find time to rest. God can hold your plates while you meet with him.
If you read the story of Moses and Jethro in Exodus chapter 18, you see how Moses was overwhelmed by the responsibilities of judging the people of Israel. His father-in-law, Jethro, advised him to delegate some of his duties to capable men to avoid burnout and ensure effective leadership.
“What’s going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?”
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me with questions about God. When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God’s laws and instructions.”
Moses’ father-in-law said, “This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you – you can’t do this alone. (Exodus 18:14-17 MSG)
Did you read that last part? You can’t do this alone.
God is so kind to place people in your life to help you.
This week I encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect. Consider if there are any plates you can entrust to God. Pray for discernment to know how and where to spend your time, ensuring you don’t neglect the people God has placed in your life.
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