Just Keep Spinning, Just Keep Spinning.....

“Just keep spinning, just keep spinning….”  That makes me think of Dory, the cute little blue fish in the animated movie, Finding Nemo.  What was that, you say?  She says what?  Ohhhh, Dory says, “Just keep SWIMMING!”  Well, that makes more sense since she is a fish! 

Actually….I know she says “swimming.”  I love this movie and especially get tickled by Ellen Degeneres’ voice for this funny, ditzy character.  But for a short-term-memory-challenged little blue fish, her words are actually quite wise and profound, aren’t they?  “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,” is saying……don’t give up…..don’t get discouraged…..keep your head up and your eye locked on your goal….if your way is dark or scary (or bombarded with “jellies”) – trust, have faith, keep putting one foot in front of the other!  I have needed to hear that this Fall. 

Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.                                                                           ~  Psalm 42:5

This September 4^th was the last time I posted a story here, and two days earlier I had just waved goodbye to my 23-year-old daughter, Holly, who moved to Chicago to work on her Master’s degree in social work.  Then two days later, on September 6^th, still wiping tears from my eyes, I stepped into my own very first graduate school class at Seminary of the Southwest, here in Austin.  What a privilege and a miraculous gift from the LORD to begin the path of earning my Master’s in counseling.  Yet I have been taking four Seminary classes these last three months, with their accompanying whirlwind of reading, papers, tests, more reading, projects, presentations, and reading…..always more reading.  I literally have had TWENTY books to read this Fall!  And I haven’t done this school thing for a few years….well 31, if you must know….and I have been deeply challenged and yet totally determined, committed to doing my best and learning what I need to learn, not only to make the most of this incredible opportunity, but also so that I will be prepared and trained to work as a counselor at the other end of this. 

So here is where I got the idea of the “spinning,” version of Dory’s philosophy – this famous act from the Ed Sullivan show that I saw for the first time when I was a little girl, the stuntman frantically tending to first one swirling, teetering plate then the next, accompanied of course by the frenetic “Sabre Dance” music.  I can truly relate to this, can you?

So when you are faced with many things pulling at you, do you just swim through easily and peacefully or do you feel more like you are caught in this circus trick?  In my life, I unfortunately seem to think I need to be this guy, leaping frantically from one demand to the other, striving to keep all the plates spinning.....   And what does God say about that?   STOP IT!  Actually, that is not a Bible verse, but this is:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.                            ~  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Stress, demands, financial crisis, so many spinning plates…..be joyful, be thankful???  Yes!  And also this:

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.                       ~  Psalm 37:7

Patience.  Hum.  Not a trait that comes naturally for me.  Yet God says, then let ME fill you with MY Spirit and one of the fruits that will bloom in you is patience.   I think we feel we need to grit our teeth and MAKE the fruit appear, and yet God says, “Abide.” 

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  ~  John 15:4

Abide – it means remain, wait, rest, live in.  And what is the fruit that God promises if we abide in Him? 

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.                     ~  Galatians 5:22 

Wow!  Is this even when we have prayers that we are waiting and waiting for an answer?  When we despair of hope?  God says this, continuing on in John 15 ~

If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you…. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.                          ~  John 15:7, 11

God knows us so well.  And He knows what moves us, what encourages us, what helps us when we are stressed and overwhelmed.  A touch from Him.  A word.  A glimmer of hope through the trees.  And for me, when I am driving across town to my Seminary class with tears streaming down my cheeks because I am overwhelmed with all the spinning plates and the waiting on prayers for financial provision yet to be answered, God speaks to me through music….a song on the radio. 

Look at the words to this song that so ministered to me this week ~

Strong Enough, by Matthew West

You must
You must think I'm strong
To give me what I'm going through
Well, forgive me
Forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For both of us

Well maybe
Maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up
Cause when I'm finally
Finally at rock bottom
That's when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough, strong enough

Cause I'm broken down to nothing
But I'm still holding on to one thing
You are God and you are strong when
I am weak

I can do all things through Christ who
Gives me strength
And I don't have to be strong enough

So, I’m listening, LORD.  And I am trying to abide in You always. 

When you are hanging by a thread, you want God to be the One holding the other end.    ~  Me.

Just keep abiding, just keep abiding…..



Click on this link to hear the Strong Enough song.