Balance

One night, my husband and I were marveling at our cat Cider, who was perched up high, with all four feet on one bed knob. He made it look so easy! “Isn’t it incredible the way that cat can balance?” I said in admiration. At that very moment Cider lost his footing and fell frantically right through the glass table beside our bed. Glass shattered everywhere—but don’t worry—Cider was fine other than being startled out of his mind. His eyes were like saucers!

Every so often, someone who’s struggling creatively asks me how I manage to balance my various projects. I’m quick to tell them that I fall out of balance and crash through my to-do-lists often. But from a distance, if you’re only watching briefly, I probably appear to be balancing with ease, just like Cider did that one time for those few seconds before he shattered the glass table. 

Isn’t it comforting to remember that no one has it all together? And that if anyone appears to, then you’re probably not standing close enough for long enough to accurately evaluate their situation. That’s why comparison is such a dangerous thing. It’s one of the fastest ways to shut down creative energy. 

When I find that I’ve gone down the road of comparison, I like to walk outside, look up at the sky and remember how big God is. He’s endlessly creative, organized, and inspiring. While comparison puts me to sleep every time, delighting in the goodness of God wakes me back up.

Blessings to you this week as you remember to keep looking up. 

~Amy