Rhythms

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

What do you get when you cross a cognitive psychologist, a neuroscientist, saxophone player and record producer?  You get Daniel Levitin, a American-Canadian university Dean of Social Sciences and Professor Emeritus.  Levitin has written extensively on the impact and integral thread of music in our lives.  In an interview on NPR's Morning Edition, he talks about how he fed over 500 musical scores into a computer and discovered that musical compositions that spanned centuries actually reflect a rhythm we find in nature.  He says, "You can see it in a snowflake or the leaf of a fern, where the smallest part of an object repeats itself over and over again to create the whole.  Scientists call these patterns fractals, and that kind of pattern is buried in the music's rhythms, whether it's Bach or Chopin."

Think about it.  Rhythms are so imbedded in our experience that we may not give it a lot of thought at first glance.  However, consider how rhythms permeate our daily lives.  There is the cardiogram that assesses the rhythm of our hearts.  Biological rhythms manage and coordinate the functions of our bodies (Circadian Rhythm and REM cycles of sleep), the behavior of animals (bird migration, salmon spawning), and marine life that reacts to the lunar tidal cycles of the oceans. 

We also have the seasonal rhythm of our year.  For those of us in the mid-latitudes of the earth, we experience four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter.  Those who are in areas closer to the equator, experience less variation and have the rainy season and dry season.  The latitudes near the poles, generally have colder, less variable seasons that are more discernable by the amount of daylight and darkness they have.  Regardless, however, of where you live on the globe, you can see a rhythm of the seasons that creates a predictable cycle...therefore, a sense of cohesion and continuity.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
            Ecclesiastes 3:1

God inspired King Solomon to write about the seasons of life when he stated, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."  He goes on to talk about all the varying "seasons" that we experience in life.  While he lists a vast array of "opposites" in our life experiences, the purpose is simply to teach us that things change in various seasons of our lives and to assure us that it is natural.  Whatever those varying seasons, God remains the constant through them all.  That gives us peace.  When we see that creation is replete with the rhythms that reflect God's design, that gives us security and a sense of the bigger picture of His Plan.  That is the perfect context in which to pursue our purpose...fitting into God's big plan and depending upon His faithfulness.

Reflecting the Rhythms in Our Daily Lives
God has designed rhythms into His creation.  Doesn't it make sense that developing rhythms in our daily lives, reflecting the rhythms in creation, would create a sense of cohesion and security?  The more in touch with God's plan that we are, the more potential we have for understanding how to live out our purpose.

Life feels more balanced when we develop rhythms that support our wellbeing.  God's rhythms in creation make things operate in concert.  When something gets out of sync, the operation of the system is thrown off.  We all know when our life gets out of sync.  It shows up in a lack of peace, feeling incompetent in fulfilling our purpose and experiencing dissatisfaction in general.  On the other hand, living our purpose is enhanced as we develop certain rhythms, because a balanced life is an effective life.

• ​Rhythm of Worship and Communion

We can't hope to live our purpose...our God-given purpose...if we aren't in connection with the God who has created and called us.  Ultimately, our purpose is to be like Jesus and to bring glory to God.  How can we hope to do that if we don't spend time with Him?

Worship is the act of giving ourselves to the One who has redeemed us through his gift of love, and Who's Spirit lives in us and draws us into relationship with Him.  We thrive as we develop a rhythm of daily personal worship and weekly corporate worship.  In doing so, we maintain our relationship and intimacy with our heavenly Father through His Son...we commune in the quiet place that we set aside for that connection.  Through praise and prayer, we practice the presence of our God.  Starting the day with Him, seeking Him throughout the day and ending the day with Him creates a rhythm that keeps us connected to the One who loves us radically.

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
                             Psalm 143:8

• Rhythm of Growth and Development

John C. Maxwell says, "A leader is a reader."  The key to being a good leader is the attitude of learning and growing.  Learning and development are central to the life of a growing person.  If we aren't growing, we are shrinking.  Just as atrophy sets in for a muscle that we don't use, atrophy of our skills and abilities sets in if we aren't using them and always seeking to increase our competency.  You may not consider yourself a leader, but however you live the purpose of your life, you can always grow in your ability to fulfill that purpose.  This means we have to be a student of God's Word.  Spending time reading and applying God's Word to our lives daily is essential to our growth as a follower of Christ.  We can't hope to know our purpose without it.

Reading after others, studying in groups, taking courses, whatever fits your lifestyle and circumstance, incorporate growth rhythms in your life.  In our information-saturated age, take advantage of the myriad options to read, learn and grow.  Do it regularly.  

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path...I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
                  Psalm 119:105, 147-148

• ​Rhythm of Rest and Self-Care

If you don't fuel yourself, you will have no resources from which to give to others.   A rhythm of taking care of yourself is essential to prevent burnout and to guard against increased vulnerability to temptation from the flesh or the enemy.  If you know anything about addiction or dealing with temptation to sin, you may have heard the H.A.L.T. acronym, when describing the times we are most vulnerable to failure.

H - hungry
A - angry
L - lonely
T - tired

All of these signs of vulnerability to temptation are addressed through self care.  Whether it is the rhythm of getting enough rest daily, or taking a break to rejuvenate weekly, or a "sabbatical" of vacation annually (or semi-annually), rest and recharging is essential to healthy living, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Give yourself permission to rest!  Don't buy into the lie that the successful and fruitful life is the one that is lived non-stop.  If you crash from fatigue or from a failure in sin, your ability to live your purpose will be limited or damaged.

Take care of yourself...your family will appreciate you, your Father will affirm you, and your future self will thank you.

And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy.
                                         Ezekiel 20:12

And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
                                   Mark 2:27

What are the rhythms you have developed in your life?  How have rhythms of worship, growth or self care made a difference in your life?  What rhythms do you want to create?  Share your thoughts in the comments...our community is eager to engage!