LIVING WITH RHYTHMS

Rhythm is the movement or repeated pattern of a beat. Rhythm is music’s pattern in time. It is the one indispensable element of all music. Rhythm can exist without melody, but melody cannot exist without rhythm. Rhythm is what keeps a song together.

In creation, there is also a rhythm. The sun rises and the sun sets. The tide comes in and goes out. Birds migrate and return. Seasons change. There is life and death. God’s rhythmic imprint has been placed upon the earth and heavens. Our senses are aware of theses rhythms — we can smell the air and know what the weather will be like. We’re used to the rhythm of the climate.

Not only are there rhythms in creation, but there are also rhythms in our own lives. We have the rhythm of work, rest, vacations, holidays, school, seasons, etc… This is what I am learning about rhythms.   

When our rhythms are in sync with God’s rhythms, life flows easily – we have more energy and tend to view things more positively, and we are more connected with God and others and we find life more satisfying. 

When we live our lives out of sync, we live erratic, stressful, overworked lives which is causing arrhythmia of the soul. Arrhythmia is a term used to refer to an irregular heartbeat. When we have arrhythmia of the soul we live irregular, off balance lives that leave us depleted, burnt out, without margin, and most concerning stuck spiritually with very little or no space to cultivate and grow in relationship with God. 

HOW'S YOUR SOUL?

When our lives are out of sync with God's rhythm for us, our soul makes a lot of noise.  What kind of noise is your soul making right now?  Is your soul crying out, "I'm overwhelmed, tired, worn out, burnt out, exhausted.  I just can't keep doing this!"  Is your soul dreaming about going away for a month just to rest and even maybe thinking about never coming back?    If you are, you are probably dealing with arrhythmia of the soul.  Here are some of the symptoms.  

1. IRRITABILITY OR HYPERSENSITIVITY.

Things that normally wouldn’t bother us (such as a child’s mistake, another driver cutting us off in traffic or a coworker’s irritating habit) put us over the edge. We may or may not express our rage outwardly, but inwardly we are aware of reactions that are all out of proportion to the event itself.

2. RESTLESSNESS.

We can’t relax. Sit still. We always have to be on the go always having to do something. When it is time to rest, we might find ourselves unable to settle down and sit quietly or fall asleep. Because we are overstimulated, our sleep may be broken, disturbed by too much mental activity or disturbing dreams.

3. COMPULSIVE OVERWORKING.

“Overwork is this decade’s cocaine, the problem without a name,” says Bryan Robinson, who has written widely about the phenomenon and estimates that as many as 25 percent of Americans have this addiction. A chronic worker is one who has no boundaries on work, checks e-mail late into the evening, and is unable to unplug completely to go on vacation, to enter into solitude or to spend uninterrupted time with family.

4. EMOTIONAL NUMBNESS.

When we are pushing our limit, we may notice that we can’t feel anything— good or bad. It takes energy to experience and process a full range of human emotion.

5. ESCAPIST THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS.

First off, we may have these feelings of wanting to escape from our lives. Like if I can only move to the beach, everything will be so much better! Trust me, I have had the thoughts.

6. NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TO YOUR NEEDS.

We don’t have time to take care of basic human needs such as exercise, eating right, sleeping enough, going to the doctor, having that minor (or major) surgery we need. Even such simple things as getting the car washed, picking up the dry cleaning or staying organized seem impossible to accomplish, indicating that we’re pushing the limits of being human. We may also notice that our most important relationships (family and friends) are routinely being short-changed.

7. SLIPPAGE IN YOUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICES.

Practices that are normally life-giving (solitude and silence, prayer, personal reflection on Scripture, journaling, self-examination, caring for the body) become burdensome, and we don’t have energy for them even though we know they are good for us. We might even find that we are so accustomed to using God and Scripture for ministry purposes that we no longer know how to be with God for ourselves personally. We know that there are things we need to attend to in God’s presence, but we truly do not have the energy or the will. Over time, this becomes a symptom and also a source of our depletion.

We must all come face to face with our limits and embrace God’s rhythms for our lives. There are limits to our time, limits to our energy, limits to our resources, limits to our finances. When we embrace those limits, we will discover a life of peace and contentment.

What we need to discover are God’s sacred rhythms for our lives. These rhythms feed and nourish the soul, keeping us open and available for God’s work in our lives, they are countercultural and require discipline. 

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

If we can learn these unforced rhythms of grace, Jesus says, we will learn to live freely and lightly with God.

What are those unforced rhythms of grace?  Here are a few that have helped me.  

1.  RHYTHM OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE.

Solitude is a place. It is a place in time that is set apart for God and God alone, a time when we unplug and withdraw from the noise of interpersonal interactions, from the noise, busyness and constant stimulation associated with life in the company of others. With a physical place that has been set apart for times alone with God, a place that is not cluttered with work, noise, technology, other relationships, or any of those things that call us back into doing mode. Most important, solitude is a place inside myself where God’s Spirit and my spirit dwell together in union. This place within me is private and reserved for the intimacies that God and I share.  In Solitude we are still, silent, and with God. We pray, read Scripture, listen, give attention to our souls, unplug, and are present with what is.  I have learned to practice silence and solitude at least 2 to 3 times per day.  Longer in the mornings and a shorter moments throughout my day.  It center's me and keeps me connected with God.  I have also learned to practice silence and solitude weekly and months by taking an entire day to be with God each month.  

2.  RHYTHM OF SABBATH.

The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word that means “to cease, to stop working.” It refers to doing nothing related to work for a twenty-four hour period each week. It refers to this unit of time around which we are to orient our entire lives as “holy,” meaning “separate, a cut above” the other six days. Sabbath provides for us now an additional rhythm for an entire reorientation of our lives around the living God.  During sabbath we imitate God by stopping our work and resting for 24 hours.  I do my best not to shop, do household chores, or anything revolving my work.  I learn just to rest and be, because we all need a break from he busyness of the world, and the world needs a break from us.  

3.  RHYTHM OF EXERCISE.  

Can't stress enough how important exercise is to your mental, emotional and physical rest.  Walking, running, moving your body a few times per week can help reduce stress, release anxiety, and keep you mentally and emotionally healthy and stable.  

4.  RHYTHM OF REST. 

Going to bed early and getting enough sleep is critical to your health.  Also, resting weekly, and an extended time of resting annually can restore your soul and rejuvenate your spirit.  Doing things that fill your bucket, and rest your soul are also so important like walking, nature, the arts, hiking, sports, can be so life giving.  I love it when I go for a long walk in nature.  It feeds my soul and rests my mind and heart from the worries of life.  I recognize that God is inc control.  

5.  RHYTHM OF FUN.  

I wonder how many of us schedule times in our week for fun?  The word recreation comes from recreate.  We  re create when we do things we enjoy and are fun to do like go to a concert, hang out with friends, go out to dinner, watch a funny movie, play a sport, go to an amusement park, family movie night or family game night, date night, etc... Life is meant to be enjoyed.  A healthy leader is learning how to enjoy life. 

6.  RHYTHM OF RELATIONSHIPS. 

I have learned to meet regularly with a counselor, a spiritual director and a coach.  These professional relationships have had an incredible impact on my life and helped me become healthy.  I also make space  to be with my family, my wife, my boys, my close friends and those I love.  The healthier I get, the more I realize is that life is more about being present with others, rather than getting things done on my to do list.  I am also learning how important it is to have friends outside the church.  I realize I need relationships that make me feel normal outside of my role as a pastor.  

WHERE DO YOU BEGIN? STOP, LOOK, LISTEN

STOP what you are doing and LOOK at how you are living. Look at your rhythms. Look within you to see if you are exhibiting any symptoms that you indicate you may be living with arrhythmia of the soul. LISTEN to your body, your heart, and your soul and LISTEN to the Holy Spirit. Come face to face with the understanding that how you are living is not good and start making changes.  Take out your calendar and schedule these rhythms in.  These rhythms feed and nourish your soul, keeping you open and available for God’s work in your life. If you can learn these unforced rhythms of grace, Jesus says, we will learn to live freely and lightly with God.

Recommended resource:  Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton