The following comes from Walt’s book, Lighting Your Way, With Love

I learned to juggle when I was in college.  It took a while for me to keep three objects in the air without dropping them.  I had to learn a pattern and the discipline of sticking to it.  Eventually, though, as long as I could safely toss it, catch it, and it was round, I could juggle it: balls, apples, oranges, etc.  I even learned a few tricks and a juggling routine, complete with comedy when I dropped something.  Juggling was and continues to be a fun thing to do that entertains children of all ages, myself included.  

It wasn't too long after I had mastered the basics that I decided I wanted to graduate to clubs in addition to juggling round objects.  Clubs, which look like bowling pins on a diet, are the mainstay of any juggler.  I already knew the criss-cross pattern of tossing and catching.  Further, whenever I spun a club in the air, the extended handle portion seemed to come right back into my hand.  How hard could juggling clubs be? Famous last question.  

I took a beginner set of clubs, which I’d received as a gift, into the spare bedroom of the house and closed the door.  What followed wasn't pretty.  I'm glad that most of what transpired remains a suppressed memory.  I do recall having to spread an old sleeping bag over the furniture to protect it.  It took weeks of practice in that "padded" room before I finally got it.  Practice, persistence, perspiration—I needed all three.

It wasn't enough to know the theory of juggling (the toss-catch pattern) or how to spin a club so that it would land in my hand correctly. It took the hard work of actually doing it over and over before I gained any proficiency. 

So it goes with the spiritual life.  It is one thing to know that God loves you, accompanies you through the ups and downs of life, and wants you to live peaceably with others.  It is another to practice your faith so that head, heart, and hands (the old 4-H mantra) connect in a fluid movement.  Faith takes hard work.  

Sadly, I've seen too many people leave their faith unpracticed.  When difficulty strikes, an unpracticed faith is not all that great a resource.  It is hard to turn to your spiritual core when you are not that all that familiar with it.   

To be sure, working on our faith is not required for God to love us.  The Bible teaches us that God's love is grace-centered and comes to us apart from our work.  The unearned mercy of God, filled with forgiveness and steadfast faithfulness, remains foundational for Christians.  That said, without practice, faith becomes unreal for us.  There is a marked difference between owning a set of juggling clubs and being able to juggle.  

As I think about navigating transitional times in life, the importance of practicing our faith comes to the forefront.  How do we exercise and engage what we know and believe to be true?  What daily connections might we make to the God who remains close at hand?  How do we make the truth of the Gospel truth for us, so that we lean into it and take refuge within?

Back to juggling.  The most basic juggling involves handling three objects in an established pattern.  Of course, professional jugglers can manipulate many more balls, clubs, or rings and can even set them on fire!  But let's take the simple route for starters.  What three aspects of faith could we juggle on a daily basis that would serve to strengthen us spiritually?  

I suggest that we focus on values, ethics, and prayer.  Each of these foci interacts with a different relational sphere. Values make up personal integrity.  Ethics is the application of our faith in our dealings with others and the world. Prayer is communication with God. Throughout the chapters of this devotional book, we will spend time with each.  We will look at some patterns and practices.  We'll struggle with some open-ended questions.  The goal is to enter into intentional living based on what we hold as spiritual truth.  

My son, Noah, who is very much in my heart as I write this book, knows how to juggle.  A long time ago, I taught the basic "toss-catch" pattern to him and his brother.  They can each do it with varying degrees of success.  In addition to balls and clubs, Noah can also work the Diablo.  This juggling apparatus looks like a giant yo-yo.  I got one in my early years of juggling and could never quite get it to work.  Noah, however, picked the Diablo up and made it his own.  He can entertain you for about ten minutes with an elaborate series of interlocking skills.

Before heading out to university, he had to go to the juggling store and learn a new trick to take with him.  Among all the things he packed for school were his Diablo and yo-yos (he is also proficient with them).  Knowing him, he is using his free time, maybe even between classes, to develop his skills.  

Practice doesn't make perfect (perfection is an unattainable fool's errand), but it does let us engage, live, grow, and thrive.  It takes time, effort, and work—but it's worth it.  It helps us gain confidence, strength, and familiarity.  Good things to have with us whenever we try to juggle.  Priceless essentials when it comes to our faith. 

A PRAYER FOR YOU:

Gracious God, be present in the midst of the busy and crazy moments of life.  When everything seems topsy-turvy, unclear, and strange, remind me of your great love.  Ground me in your grace. Give me the wisdom to take things one at a time.  Guide me in your ways. Renew my courage to trust in you.  Through Jesus Christ, amen. 

Today’s reading comes from Walt’s first book, Lighting Your Way, With Love. He wrote it on the occasion of his son leaving for college. It is a devotional book about transitions, faith, and living as a child of God.

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