The Rhythm of Life

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)

We talk a lot about "balance" in our lives.  We want to balance our work life with our family life with our recreational time with our church and volunteer time.  Balance.  The picture that flashes in my mind is the Cat in the Hat balanced on his tiptoe on a big ball with all sorts of household items teetering on his head and hands piled one on top of the other.  Is this really what we want?... balance?  Everything threatening to come crashing down around us at any moment?

Jesus didn't "balance" his life.  You never get the feeling that anything was about to fall or that he could lose control at any time.  No.  Jesus had a rhythm to his life.  A time to pray... a time to teach... a time to listen... a time to heal.  It all came naturally and in its own time.  He never had to say, "No, I can't do that for you now or I won't have time for this other thing."  He just followed the rhythm.

Rhythm gives a much better word picture... dancing.  I would much rather dance through life than spend it standing on top of a big ball holding everything up.  If you have been doing a balancing act, try living to a rhythm instead.  Get off the giant ball and meet life as it meets you.  It doesn't mean we have to drop everything we need to do, but to look at it all differently.  Sometimes you have to let something go in order to keep the beat.  It's okay.  You can swing back and pick it up as you dance back around if you really need to.  If you are holding too many things to find the rhythm, you are holding too much.

Lord Jesus,
Teach us the rhythm of life that you had down so well.  Help us to get the timing right and to know which of the many things we are balancing on top of our heads we need to let go of.  Amen.