I often feel like a less talented version of this man, attempting to keep all of my plates spinning. I have been thinking about this idea for a few weeks now. I believe that the gospel and life are full of opposing ideas that provide a balance: good and evil, sickness and health, care for self and care for others. A sense of well being and joy is the result of good balance. When we are not balanced we experience feelings of uneasiness, frustration and hopelessness to name a few.
One obstacle is that each person's balance is different; we each have different plates. Plates may be such things as personal health, church responsibilities, work, education, family duties, illness, housework or debt. Even more complicated is the name and number of the plates will change as we progress through life.
As I turned to the scriptures to find examples they were a little obscure, but they are there. I thought of Martha (I discussed her last year). In her case the Savior himself pointed out her unbalance. She was too focused on her temporal duties, rather than spiritual matters.
Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art acareful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath achosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
He did not say that she was making a bad choice, but that Mary had chosen the good part.
I thought of Nephi. This example is not as clear, but I read in 2 Nephi 5:6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also aZoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the bwarnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words.
I wonder if Nephi had weighed his different responsibilities of being a leader to his wayward brothers and to his own children. Yes, he was commanded by God to depart. Perhaps it had reached a point where it was no longer possible to care for one group without injuring the other. Nephi, following God's instructions, removed one of his plates.
The last example I thought of was a broad one, the epistles of Paul. In numerous places those early Christians had taken certain doctrines to the extreme. Paul wrote to help bring them back into balance. The people of Thessalonia were under the belief that the second coming of the Lord would be soon. In the Bible dictionary it says that it had "fostered an unhealthy excitement and seemed to countenance improvident idleness." While the doctrine of the second coming was true, the people were placing too much weight and focus on it.
When our equilibrium becomes off something typically happens to bring it to our attention. It can be circumstances colliding, declining health, too much stress, my children's tantrums, etc. They give us a needed wake up call and give us a chance to evaluate our plates and make changes.
In 2010 President Uchtdorf made this statement "There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions." I have a tendency to make things more difficult than they need to be. In part 2 of this balance topic I cover some ideas for finding your own balance.
I will end where I began, the image of the man spinning his plates. Last week I was at the gym, on a bike. As I was thinking about balance I imagined myself on stage struggling with my plates. I felt stretched beyond my abilities and was ready to give up. Suddenly I became aware that the plates were staying in place better. I realized that someone was standing behind me helping- catching the ones that I could not get to. It was my Savior. The picture was so real that it literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. I know that help is available to each one of us; you are not alone!
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