JUGGLING CHAINSAWS

JUGGLING CHAINSAWS

I read an intriguing essay by Marlene Buffa.  Rather creatively, her article addresses the complexities of modern-day life.  Ms. Buffa employs the metaphor of “juggling chainsaws” as an apt description of how so many handle the major stress and varied stuff of life.  Read, reflect and enjoy.

Years ago, “Saturday Night Live” included a skit where Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest played blue collar workers discussing their masochistic habits. *  Describing painful physical events that were absurdly orchestrated, they grimaced and replied, “Ooh, I hate when that happens.”  The audience laughed heartily, not only because of the performers’ comedic talents, but because they recognized the irony of their own self-destructive behaviors.  

(*) Editor’s Note: “MASOCHISM” is gratification gained from pain imposed on oneself (or) the act of turning one’s destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself. [Source: Dictionary.com]

We, too, have our own life-chainsaws that we desperately try to juggle, and, likely more than we care to admit, we wind up unwittingly grinding away at the solid trunk of our life-foundation.  All too often, our peace and productivity are felled at our own hands, which have wielded the perilous tools of our self-destruction.

For many people, life has three major aspects which comprise daily existence: our work, our play and our relationships.  We opt to savor them one at a time, or we grab each precious experience by the handful, anxiously wondering how to navigate or make sense of it all.  One by one, we examine each component, and given the luxury of time and patience, we learn to fully appreciate the role of each aspect in our lives.

But what happens when we neglect two parts to actualize only one portion of life?  Sitting on the sidelines, waiting for engagement, the other two neglected orbs of life somehow try to operate on their own.  In truth, when we cannot handle each portion of life in equal balance, the neglected parts will profoundly suffer.

Perhaps the key to juggling the various and sundry parts of life is learning how to focus.  Because, more often than not, the loudest chainsaw in our lives gets the most attention, in the same manner that the squeakiest wheel invariably gets the grease.  When we find ourselves crying out loudly for healing of one aspect over another, we must recognize the imbalance and seek to correct it.  As in juggling, coordinating all areas of life requires skill, timing and constant attention.  Struggling to keep all parts of ourselves active and alive requires tireless effort which might eventually lead to fatigue, but focusing on one portion over another ultimately produces the failure of the whole.

Here’s the problem.  Juggling itself produces no results.  Look at your life.  In what ways is your life enriched by your constant attention to making everything always turn out neat and even?  Life just doesn’t work that way.  It’s not all neat…not all that even…and sometimes, not all that beautiful.  We must learn to take the good with the bad, and not get so lost in the process of juggling that we forget to enjoy every day afforded to us.

When things are good, they don’t require much juggling.  Only perceived difficulties require shifting to avoid our feeling too bad too long with one thing or another.  We do not hear too much about juggling and struggling when we are experiencing perfect health, happiness and abundance.  Even so, as humans, we tend to interject ‘drama’ and find a reason to experience “I hate when that happens” moments at our own expense.  It’s the human condition.

Take a close look to see what you are actually juggling in life; you might discover an absurd struggle!  You see, even misery requires focus, energy and perpetual motion to exist.  Never be afraid to evaluate your success in the following three aspects of life:  WHY are you juggling, what are you focusing on, (hence creating more of the same), and WHAT are you juggling, i.e. how does that particular thing show up in your life?  Someday you may realize that the one thing in your life that you’ve desperately tried to keep in motion is not anything you ever really wanted or needed.  If it doesn’t empower you and others, move forward, drop it, and be happy for the loss.  You just might have been juggling chainsaws – and that’s quite a dangerous proposition.

Many thanks are extended to Ms. Buffa for sharing so eloquently with us.  Moreover, I would add an additional and all-important life ingredient for our consideration, which is THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF LIFE.  While we are attending to our relationships, our work and our play, WE MUST NEVER NEGLECT OUR SPIRITS, which will significantly impact those three key areas, in the most profound, personal and permanent way.  What do you think?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!