“…for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
We all have rhythms in our life, or routines, or rituals if you prefer. Maybe you don’t think of them as particularly sacred, but order and structure to our daily lives are not only comforting, but also ground us in our identity. As an example, I call myself a knitter, so I make sure to spend some of my time knitting. Whether we realize it or not, the way we spend our time develops into something of a rhythm for us. Our sacred rhythm reminds us of our identity as God’s beloved children.
As Christians, a piece of that rhythm is our time in prayer, whether it be corporate prayer in Sunday worship, a simple prayer with family before meals, quiet meditation in the morning or before bed, or even just a quick intercessory prayer for a friend or loved one. Worship is another piece of the rhythm, as is the reading of scripture (study). You might be surprised to hear that vital to a sacred rhythm is what we do for rest and restoration – gardening might be part of your rhythm. Or running. Or cooking. Or…. Service to others is a part of your sacred rhythm. That might be serving in your community, or that might mean care of your family – those with small children or those caring for aging parents.
Living in the midst of a global pandemic has destroyed many of these rhythms. Even the simple act of going to church has been significantly changed by Covid-19! I say “destroyed,” because it has felt almost like an act of violence to have our lives so completely changed by this. We have been experiencing this loss for the past six months, and it still isn’t over.
Instead, we are in the midst of weird hybrid way of being. Some things have gone back to “normal,” except not completely. We need not fear the grocery store, but make sure to wear your mask! We have gone back to work, though not the way we worked before. Church is still online, even as we try to gather in small groups for outdoor worship. It’s just not the same.
How do we live during this strange hybrid time? I believe we are called right now to find a new sacred rhythm. As our routines have changed, what routine have we included to ground ourselves spiritually? What practices are helping you to stay rooted in God’s love?
I believe this new rhythm is going to be more flexible than before. We can stay rooted, but allow our branches to move with the wind that changes daily. I wonder if we might be more like trees that share their root systems – the deeper we go, the more connected we are to one another, which makes us stronger when the winds come.
God is feeding those roots, nourishing and sustaining us. Take some time to consider your new rhythm and find the sacred moments within it. Take some time as well to mourn the loss of the rhythm that gave you life pre-pandemic. There is no statute of limitations on being sad and grieving what has been lost. Ask God for a new rhythm, a new song in your heart, to sustain you during this time. And remember, God is there, always, to give us life and to wipe away every tear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyy7RWXAV9Q