Life Lessons from the Circus, Part 2: Master of Ceremonies

Master of Ceremonies and Master Adapter

Master of Ceremonies

(Life lessons I learned at the circus, Part 2. You can see Part 1 here.)

At one point during the evening’s performance, the Master of Ceremonies asked for four children as volunteers. He went into the audience and found four kids who he judged suitable for his routine. During the kerfluffle of getting back on stage, he lost sight of one of the volunteers, and in an effort to keep the patter going, mumbled something about losing a child. “Where’d she go?” he said half to himself.

By the time he got on stage with the four children, a fifth unexpectedly materialized. It was obvious she had heard his vocal internal monologue and took it upon herself to help him out. “Where’d you come from?”

She pointed to the audience. “Out there.”

“You’re gonna go far in life, kid.”

So now the MC has a fifth kid to deal with when the bit only called for four. Without skipping a beat, he seamlessly integrated her into the show. He pretended like it was his plan all along to have her help hold one corner of the handkerchief. He made sure she got just as much attention as the other ones on stage. She never once realized she wasn’t supposed to be up there. And he never once complained about it. After that initial comment, it seemed like there were supposed to be five kids participating all along.

He was not only a Master of Ceremonies, he was a master adapter.

Unexpected Change

Life has a way of throwing unexpected things our way. I know I am not living the life I imagined I would be. If I were, I would be married, sending children off on missions and watching them marry, probably have some grandchildren of my own, and own a four-bedroom house.

Just because it’s not what I thought it would be though, doesn’t mean I have to be miserable. (It also doesn’t mean I regret any of the unexpected twists and turns, but that’s for another day.) I have chosen to make, not just the most of my life, but the best of my life.

If I were unwilling to adapt my present to the teenage imaginings of what life might have been, I would be very miserable indeed. “Misery loves company,” as the saying goes. No one is more miserable than Satan, and I certainly don’t want to be in that company!

“So the faith to adapt and grow in the places where we are planted or have planted ourselves becomes critical.” (Addie Fuhrimann, “Singleness: How Relief Society Can Help,” October 1980.)

Weakness to Strength

When life doesn’t go as we planned, hoped, or even seems to be drawn by the same architect, it is not the end of the world. It is not time to throw in the towel or despair. Neither are we expected to passively accept what it appears to be a random deck of cards dealt to us. You get to decide right now, for yourself, what the rest of your life looks like.

How? “Jesus Christ helped people from all walks of life reach heights they had never dreamed of by teaching them to walk in new, secure paths.” (Marvin J. Ashton, “Progress through Change,” October 1979.) (That whole talk is really excellent. I highly recommend it.)

In Philippians 4:13, the apostle Paul, who certainly knew more than his fair share of life-altering circumstances, said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” All things can be done through Christ, because through Him is where all strength comes from.

Jesus knows what every unexpected change, heartache, and monkey wrench feels like. We can access that source of power and assistance to strengthen us in our weakness, “But we activate the power of the Atonement in our lives. We do this by first believing in Him, by repenting, by obeying His commandments, by partaking of sacred ordinances and keeping covenants, and by seeking after Him in fasting and prayer, in the scriptures, and in the temple.” (Sheri L. Dew, “Our Only Chance,” April 1999.) (Another endorsement for an excellent talk. Read the whole thing.)

Master Adapter

You are the Master of Ceremonies of your life. Different people may come up on stage than what you initially expected; what do you do about that? You can resent that person’s presence, or you can turn it into a beautiful experience for all.

Then, with The Master’s help, in addition to being the MC, you can be the MA – the Master Adapter – and turn your life into an unexpected, yet beautiful work of art.

LauraAuthor
Laura will be the first to tell you she’s not perfect. That’s why she loves the restored gospel, and loves the atonement.
2017-07-10T21:39:39-07:00

About the Author:

Laura will be the first to tell you she’s not perfect. That’s why she loves the restored gospel, and loves the atonement.