Today as part of our Spring Break activities I took Emery and Emma to a trampoline park.
They bounced their legs off, got hurt a few times, and are utterly worn out this evening.
A great day!
Jumping on a trampoline is all about rhythm. In fact, being out of rhythm was what usually caused the kids moments of pain.
Because that’s when legs get jammed, ankles get folded, and people fall down.
When they’re out of rhythm.
One day Jesus was talking to the people who followed him:
“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.”
Matthew 11:28-30, MSG
The unforced rhythm of grace is like finding the groove in a piece of music.
Groove happens when we find the right rhythm of yes and no, of notes and spaces. The sweet spot of flow that lives between too many stresses (too many notes or yeses) and too little stress (too many spaces or nos).
It’s the Goldilocks point—JUST RIGHT.
For most of us the issue is playing too many notes, too much of the time.
Like Junior High band students with shiny instruments, we show up to PLAY. Resting seems like a huge waste of time.
One of the big differences with a high school band is the musicians have learned to play the rests.
A large chunk of the history of Christian spirituality can be summarized in two simple words:
Be quiet.
C. S. Lewis once said, “The first job each morning consists in shoving all [other voices] back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”
So switch gears. Break out. Breathe deeply. Float in a pool, or beat on a drum, or hum a tune, or fold some laundry. Find something you can do on repeat, without directly focusing on the task.
As the 12-steppers put it, “Let go and let God.” And in the spaces, find those unforced rhythms of grace.
Today, simply pause for a moment. Full stop. Take 2-5 minutes to simply listen. Does God have something to say to you? Or is it simply a time where He can “show you how to take a real rest”, as today’s scripture says?
Find the answer to that question. And find your groove.
That’s worship.
–Steve.