Change, Balance, and Acrobats
- itcametopass
- Oct 12, 2018
- 3 min read
I remember going to an acrobatics performance once in high school. The gravity defying stunts dazzled the crowd and during a small question and answer session I learned something that has stayed with me. The acrobats who performed with amazing stunts on our humble stage told us that the key to balancing was staying in constant motion. Even when they seemed perfectly still to us the audience they were in fact shifting their weight around constantly. This confused me, to stay upright they deliberately moved back and forth instead of finding a balance and staying perfectly still? And although that information didn’t turn me into a world class acrobat, it has, in later years, taught me a valuable life lesson. You see in life we are constantly looking for our own balance amongst the changes that happen.
I have been thinking a lot about change recently. We know it’s good for us, but we also find it hard when it befalls us. Like the acrobats of my youth, however, change is necessary for us to keep our balance and even progress. Over the past few years I have gone through a lot of changes as I have graduated college and begun my career path. Some have been small and other large trials. Through all of it I have noticed that the Lord has kept a watchful eye out and guided me through every step. I feel that he understands when I am standing still, and gives me a nudge to keep moving, to keep balancing.
One especially hard change was when I was let go from an amazing job position. The position was paying for graduate school and offered me a decent salary. At the time I was riddled with questions such as: Why do I have to lose this opportunity? How am I going to provide for myself and my future family? And even: Am I a failure, what did I do wrong to deserve this? But the one question that was most difficult to ask was what opportunities is the Lord giving to me? You see had I not lost that job I wouldn’t have looked for the job I have now, one with more flexibility and wider avenues for future success. In the moment I didn’t understand why I needed to move, but the Savior has perfect balance and knew that to keep me on my toes I needed a little nudge.
Other changes that have been on my mind recently are those to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Although I personally do not know anyone who has struggled deeply with the changes, I have heard some have. One question I hear consistently is that if the Church is perfect why it changes so much from time to time. It should be noted that although the doctrine of the Church has never changed, the application of those principals do from time to time. Much of these changes can be understood as we consider the changing atmosphere of the world. As the worlds views shift and change the way the Church is administered changes to better align its members with Christ’s steady teachings. And at times perhaps the Lord makes changes simply to make us aware, to keep us moving, and to keep us on our spiritual toes. He wants us to find balance, but not by doing the same thing we always have, but keeping in motion so that we, like acrobats, can keep balance and progress.
-Austin
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