Many see life like the croaking of a frog.
RIBBIT - rest - RIBBIT - rest. - RIBBIT - rest
Perfectly metered...equally paced. Off, on, off, on. Work, home, work, home. A perfect blend. This is NOT life. You may hear this in a swamp but you won’t see it in your neighborhood. We get into trouble when we feel like our lives should live up to this unrealistic expectation. It simply isn’t possible or necessary.
Life is much more like the song of the bird. Music... loud, soft, long rests and short blasts. Melodic...flowing...pausing...restarting. It isn’t loud crescendos all the time... often it’s calm melodies... thoughtful passages where great focus is placed on the benefit of the entire piece over one grouping of instruments. Sometimes it gets very loud and stays there... only to give way to a necessary silence. A time to catch your breath, turn the page, and continue playing. Unequally paced...intentionally asymmetrical.
The key to a fulfilled life is seeking Christ in all things... realizing that we should be focused on His rhythms over the hard cadence of what the world deems to be healthy.
I love the way this verse from Matthew talks about it.
“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
Recover your life. Unforced rhythms of grace. Real rest.
Only through Christ.
Jesus didn’t try to balance His ministry... spending equal time with His disciples and those He came to serve. Instead He knew that He had a limited time to make an impact for the Kingdom...
He gave His all to fulfill His purpose...
Intentionally poured into His family when He was with them...
Involved those He loved in what He was doing...
Stayed connected to God through honest communication in prayer..
It wasn’t balance He was after... it was rhythm. The world may have said He wasn’t balanced... and they would be right. He wasn’t going for parity. He was fulfilling His purpose.
We should do the same.
Thrive where you’re planted... make the most of the season you’re in... and dance to the perfect rhythm of life by following Christ. Give up the pursuit of balance and embrace the ebb and flow of God’s timing and mission for your life.
Let the frogs croak... you weren’t meant for the bog anyway.
