Lost Rhythm!

August 18, 2022

Lost Rhythm!

For the last few weeks, I have been listening to instrumental jazz.  I listen for 30 minutes or so before I go to sleep each night.  The music is reflective and relaxing.  The music is inspiring and intriguing.

The music speaks to a deep part of something inside of me.  There are many different artists, many different instruments, and many different interpretations.  But, all of the songs have something in common; there is a rhythm that defines and drives the music.

Recently, I have been feeling as if I have lost the rhythm.  For the last six months, cardboard boxes have been a strong presence in our house and in my life.  All that is unpacked is a bed, a bookshelf, and a small folding table. 

Transitions, changes, and shifts have been the norm.  A place to sit, a place to read, and even a place to write have been interrupted.  A place to eat, a place to relax, and a place to visit have been disrupted.  A place to sleep, a place to do laundry, and a place to feel at home have been inconsistent.

I feel a bit lost.  I feel a bit confused.  I feel a little out of sync.  I can’t feel the rhythm! 

The jazz music to which I listen each evening is teaching me that just as good music needs a strong and steady rhythm so does my life.  Somewhere during the last six months, I have lost much of the rhythm of life.

The evidence is all around.  I still get up at 5:00 a.m. but there is nowhere to go.  I still have a goal to write a blog but totally forgot about this one until yesterday.  I still want to be part of a church but have not yet found one that fits.  The rhythm has been lost.

Deep down in our soul, there is a rhythm wired into every human being.  That rhythm was defined before life existed.  That rhythm is a spiritual thing that was and is still finding its source in the Lord God.

In the first chapter of the book of Genesis, we see the rhythm of life at work.  Each day has a beginning and an end.  Each day is filled with creative and beautiful energy bursting into something new.  Each day is filled with the presence and power of the Divine touching every living thing.  Each day, everything in creation has a rhythm set in place by the Lord God. 

After six days, the Lord God makes an announcement.  In Genesis 1:25 we hear; “And God saw that it was good.”  A bit later (vs. 31) the Lord God says, “…it was very good.”  There is a good rhythm in creating, initiating, and producing.  There is a good rhythm in resting, reflecting, and refreshing.  There is a very good rhythm of living a life full of gratitude, reverence, and praise.

And yet, we often experience life without the rhythm of goodness that the Lord God intends for us. 

There are days when every direction we turn seems to frustrate us more. 

There are days when God’s peace is not near as strong as our impatience. 

There are days when forgiveness of something in the past seems unlikely if not impossible. 

There are days when the rhythm with which our soul was created is temporarily lost. 

Sometimes we feel lost or sad or confused.  Sometimes we feel tired, burdened, or purposeless.  Our soul needs its rhythm back…our Creator’s rhythm for life and love.

Take a moment to reflect on the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-29.  Jesus tells us how to recover from the seasons in life when we have lost the rhythm.  Listen to Jesus.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Exhaustion from tasks too hard or too many can deplete us.  Burdens from the expectations of others or our own unwillingness to forgive can steal away the peace of God.  A lack of quiet time for reading Scripture or praying with Jesus can leave us yearning for something more.  A lack of connection with Jesus or community with other people can leave us mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted.

Jesus invites us to draw near to find strength and refreshment.  Jesus invites us to draw near to find freedom and acceptance.  Jesus invites us to draw near so He can restore a Divine rhythm to our life. 

When we draw near to the heart of Jesus, our heart will be filled with delight in the Lord.  That is the rhythm for which our soul longs most.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug

One more thing; invite someone who has lost the rhythm to join our blog community this week.