unforced rhythms of grace

“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.” (THE MESSAGE)

We meditated this Thursday on several versions of the above passage... each one spoke in subtly different ways to different people... we all loved the way Peterson interpreted the text in The Message... especially the sense that rest is not simply about finding places of stillness - though this is important too - but allowing ourselves to find a rhythm of living that is in itself restful... the truth of the passage is that life is never fully still, even in the moments of stillness we have some sense of purpose, some internal dynamic, hopes and dreams etc.  The call is not to stop permanently, to do nothing, but to relax into a way of being, of working, of walking with God which does not drain or exhaust us... which is not defined by business nor by nothingness... but which is full of purpose and even "work" but allows God to set the rhythm and the pace, allows God to be alongside us the whole time, not just the times when we either stop or panic!

As a community we've struggled to find a rhythm of life that works... perhaps we've either tried too hard and/or pushed it aside... somehow this last few weeks it has come to a head, through exhaustion, through stress, through situations beyond our control and through Gods prompting... we need the rhythm to emerge, unforced as a gift if God's grace and as an expression of our daily walking with God in every place and every time we find ourselves.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

Technorati Tags: Community: Missional: new-monasticism: Spirituality: theology

Comments

[Andrew Dowsett]

Hi Mark,

I've been reflecting along similar lines - http://dowsetts.blogspot.com/2008/09/semi-circle.html

Andrew

[Tam]

My revelation of journeying with God was birthed in danger and fear
and I've realised that knowing how to rest in Him didn't enter my heart,only the strugggle to survive.Yet the deepest part of my soul sighs and calls me to rest. But how?
Each of us at Safe Space have walked different journeys to come to this point.Our stories are radically different and yet we together ask how to rest,to find the rhythm that inspires and feeds who we are.That captures us into freedom.
What a journey the next few months are going to be as together we wrestle to rest and begin to walk with a rhythm/beat that moves us beyond who we are and further into who He is.The new language,beyond words, that we seek,becoming continously revealed.
I am excited and scared and commited to this journey,like Peter leaping before I look.
Mark can I roar like a lion now or should I just wait till Thursdays meditation?

[Mark]

Hey Tam... when you need to Roar, you need to Roar :-D