Monday 18 August 2014

The Rhythm of Life

Ever since I set out on the road of Christian discipleship I have been persuaded that we need to develop lives which follow certain disciplines and have a ‘shape’; we need to have a ‘Rhythm of Life’ (which also happens to be the title of one of David Adams excellent books of Celtic inspired Christian spirituality).

Christians from evangelical, liberal, catholic, charismatic, orthodox and Celtic streams would all broadly agree on this. Patterns of daily prayer and weekly worship and the shape of the Christian Year are all part of the ‘Rhythm of Life’. But there is more; the balance between work and leisure, play and prayer, family/friends and solitude and so on and on.

I am utterly convinced of the value of developing a ‘Rhythm of Life’, totally persuaded that it is essential to our personal and spiritual well being – and yet I am utterly hopeless at it!

Yes – that is a confession of abject failure!

I cannot get the Rhythm right.

Curiously, when it comes to music, I have a very good sense of rhythm. I should have been a drummer (but it was easier to carry a guitar around than a drum kit!). But beyond music, I am no good at it.

Prayer can get squeezed out, the family can suffer, friendships get neglected, domestic chores get put off, I ignore my own recreational needs and so on and on.

I imagine that I am not alone. But I really don’t know for sure.

Are you the same?

How can we fix it?

Do we need each other, perhaps??

(Or have I just embarrassed myself by admitting to an inability to do somethign that everyone else finds comes naturally?!?)

Let me know!


2 comments:

  1. David I think that on occasion the rhythm of life is just right. But only on occasion. And it's those times that make sense of all the other out of sync stuff and days where it's very trying and tests your patience to the limit.

    I don't always go to church on a Sunday and don't do church tasks however I feel very close to God in the work I do as a mental health writer, activist and campaigner. I have found that occasions arise where I talk about my faith and about God, naturally, for it comes into conversations by Email and in person. Recently it was because of a terminal illness and a colleague's quick departure from this earth, in some ways an adversary, as we weren't in agreement on many topics mental health. Yet I still miss him.

    I was at church last Sunday and the minister in the sermon (Haggai 1) talked about being too busy doing God's work to do his garden, or to play golf or to go fishing, and then exhorted us to be the same. I wasn't convinced of his reasoning. It may be that in the garden we will be praying and on the golf course we will be sharing our faith, and in the fishing boat we will be drawing near to our heavenly Father, praising His Name. Who's to know what God is calling each of us to do, and why?

    I wouldn't say it was about fixing anything but about taking time to chill out, to go with the flow when you have to and at the end of the day to consider that you've done your best and tomorrow is another day.

    I think the last time I met you in person was when you were minister at Kennoway Church and I attended for a while, went to the Alpha group, and it was a healing time for me, respite from the church I was a member of. You didn't put any pressure on me to join and I could just "be". I remember the evening service was flexible and at times different. I liked the variety and the church members were very welcoming. It was an oasis. I have no doubt that your ministry at St Cuthbert's will bear the same fruit.

    All the best, Chrys

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  2. Thanks for the encouraging comments Chrys! I would share your uncertainty re that minister's sermon! Very strange teaching I would say. Did not even God rest on the seventh day??

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