Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Develop A Sustainable Rhythm

Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. -- Luke 21:37-38

There is no balance in life. I don’t care who told you it was a wonderful goal, it just isn’t possible. Oh, we know we need a little of this and a little of that, time for work, time for play, time for family, time for friends, time for self, time for exercise, time for … well, you get the point.

What ends up happening is a juggling act that is destined to fail. There is absolutely no way a normal human being can keep all those things going, let alone in balance. Whatever that means.

So if we can’t “balance” all we need to do, how in the world will we ever cope with it all? In his book, The Jesus Life, Stephen W. Smith calls us to develop a rhythm in our lives, much as Jesus illustrated for us in how He lived His life on earth.

The crowds flocked to Jesus during His ministry. He gave and gave and gave. So did His disciples. But nobody can be “on” all the time without eventually running the well dry. Most of us have been there, done that, in our lives.

Jesus took time each day to spend time alone with the Father. Let me repeat the crucial part of that sentence: each day. Not just on Sunday. Not only when He had time. Not in a frantic few moments reading a Sunday school lesson or a chapter in the Bible.

In fact, Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He always seemed to have time for everyone and everything. Yeah, He is God but He is also Man. So how did He do it all when most of us can’t seem to get out of the starting block without stumbling?

Again -- Jesus spent time each day with His Father. Not rushed. Not tidbits here and there. Not while He was trying to watch TV or help the kids with homework or check e-mails or facebook. Each time Jesus spent time alone with God, the source of His strength. The source of our strength.

We want to do everything and be everything for those around us. We want to be a dedicated worker, a marvelous spouse, a terrific parent. We want to have fun and read and travel. We want to coach little league and cook like Martha Stewart and have a house that is always picked up and perfectly decorated. The truth is we never will have all those things. At least, not at the same time.

But we can have peace where we are. We can have strength to do the things we must. We can give beyond what we ever thought possible. So long as we stay focused on the source of strength and wisdom, patience and grace.

That’s the lesson Jesus taught us. Not balance. Certainly not juggling a million things at once. But filling the well every day by spending time alone with God. So life your life as Jesus did. Get off the treadmill and develop a rhythm that will revitalize and sustain you, no matter what life brings your way.