Rhythm

Tonight in our evening worship time, we sang a song called “Your Love is Extravagant.” There’s a line in that song that says, “I find I’m moving to the rhythm of your grace.”

One of the things I love about mission trips is that invariably the group ends up moving to the rhythm of God’s grace. We worship, work hard and enjoy deep fellowship. Each day has a similar cadence: Pray. Work. Eat. Play. Pray. Repeat.

This way of moving and living seems so much more in tune with how God created us to move and live. Today, for instance, I had about 30 minutes before dinner. I walked around a little bit, and then I sat in a hammock for a while. Really – I sat in a hammock. Who does that? I’m sure people do, but you don’t hear about it very much. I certainly do not.

While I was in that hammock, though, I saw two fireflies, had a deep conversation with a teenager about real stuff and connected with an adult about some upcoming ministry. It was very peaceful. It filled my soul. It was Sabbath.

Our fast-paced, text-messaging, microwaving culture has lost touch with Sabbath. As one author I like has written, “Busyness is a disease of our time.” We are all running around 10 minute late for life. That drains our souls, and it is not Sabbath.

I am writing this at about 9:15 pm. Soon, I’ll shut down the computer and go to sleep, eager for the morning to come. Our group gathers each morning on a roof-top lookout for morning devotional at 7 am. Believe it or not, I’m actually up almost 30 minutes or so before that, fully rested. I am recharged because when one is on a Sabbath schedule, one is actually able to completely sleep off a hard day of work. Around that time – 6:30 or so - I get up, get dressed and pour a cup of dark, delicious Nicaraguan coffee, and then I head to devotion. As I’m walking through this beautiful, lush ranch in the cool air of daybreak, I hear these words come to life:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee.”

Now that’s living.