Lesson learned from Doug the Jug...

This Egyptian wall painting (c. 1994-1781 BC) appears to depict toss jugglers. 1994-1781 B.C. – Egypt
The earliest known record of juggling, from the 15th Beni Hassan tomb of an unknown prince, depicting female dancers and acrobats throwing balls. (Wikipedia)

in China (770-476 B.C.) juggling was a way of managing conflict. Wikipedia tells us that Xiong Yiliao, in a battle between the states of Chu and Song, juggled nine balls at the same time. How far we have come... but then our views on how war and international conflict should be handled is a whole 'nother topic. Although, in my time of very serious research on the history of juggling, I was struck with the profound possibility that it may have been Jesus who suggested settling wars with juggling. i know Jesus would have had to have friend who were jugglers (and played with yo-yos).

Gene, Sam and Spencer and I, went to see "Doug the Jug" at the Overture Center here in Madison last weekend. As I watched "Doug the Jug" I became intrigued by the art. We also saw a juggler on New Year's Eve. The boys love it, and I've never seen Spencer so captivated by a show. A good juggling act is just plain FUN! As I watched "Doug the Jug", it was as if time paused for just a bit, long enough for me to take notice. I scanned the room of amazing smiles, laughter, hands waving in the air, "pick me!", the adoring gazes of parents experiencing the "win" of parenthood. It was a really fun moment. As I took in this moment I wondered, Is Doug the Jug enjoying this as much as he seems to be? What leads someone to be a juggler? Was this a dream of his coming true? Does he make a living doing this?

Ephesians 4 tells us that we are all given gifts to offer. While this text speaks mostly of believers and how we are designed to live and work together, I believe we can see it in all of God's creation. The people around us, believers or not, have the potential to teach us about their creator - our God.

"I want you to get out there and walk - better yet, run - juggle! - on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline - not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift." and I think Paul meant juggling too.(this was a sort of paraphrase of The Message version of Ephesians 4)

I am increasingly facinated with people. God has created so many very interesting people. I love to watch people do what they do. I love to watch people shine, especially when they don't know they are shining. They are just doing what they think comes "naturally". and I really love to notice that what seems natural is in reality very supernatural. These are the things that amaze me.

For example, I had lunch with my friend Lisa. Lisa works for the DNR as a Water Resources Management Specialist. Her husband works as a Hydrogeologist Program Coordinator for the DNR. We talked about many things over lunch but as it happens when someone begins to speak about an area of passion, I saw Lisa become much more energized as she spoke about ecology. Lisa is passionate about our environment. From her I learn about the heart of God towards creation. While she may not even be considering the biblical nature of the lessons she is teaching me, God has put His passion for creation in Lisa. He has given her a gift that I was not given but still benefit from. I told her that I saw something that God cares about through her and asked her to teach me more just by sharing it with me even when she knows she going right over my head with the science of it all.

I know little about juggling. It is unlikely that I will make time to learn to juggle in a way that would bring such joy to others. I know little about ecology, it is unlikely that I will gain the heart for understanding of it that Lisa has. I can learn from Doug the Jug, from Lisa and others around me who hold the little pieces of a larger picture within their lives. God has placed glimpses of Himself all around us - we get the fun of putting them together. First, we must notice.

So...next time you are at lunch with a friend, watching a juggler, taking a walk...

a side note: another cool thing about church planting - this noticing what God is doing in and through the people around us IS our job.