Greatest Show on Earth

Talk about sensory overload. And I felt right at home.

We just returned from an afternoon at the circus. You know ... clowns, cotton candy, and even the occasional pile of crap.

I don't know about you, but I find it a little difficult to decide which big top act deserves my attention. You've got an elephant with a paintbrush at one end, crazy clowns at the other, and sequined beauties dangling from a trapeze in the center ... and those are just the pre-show acts.

Once the lights dim, it becomes even more difficult to choose. Of course the tightrope walkers have most folks on the edge of their seats, but outside the spotlight you've also got the men in black hauling in a hamster wheel the size of a mac truck. And then there's Kate, my 4-year-old, focusing on the most interesting thing of all ... the strips of red, yellow and blue confetti dotting the floor.

Story of my life. Now that I've quit work it seems like every day is a circus. And I mean that in the best possible way, of course. There's so much competing for my time. And it's all good stuff. Okay, most of it is good stuff. But if I don't make some conscious decisions about my time, I'll just end up spinning on that hamster wheel.

A show the size of the "Bellobration" I witnessed today requires a great deal of planning. It's amazing how people are constantly moving behind the scenes in preparation for the next act. While there may be a lot of action, it's purposeful action. There is a grand plan that's being followed, and then there's a spotlight that's intended to help the crowd stay focused.

That's what I need ... a plan and a spotlight.


Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119: 105 (NRSV)