Rhythms
Matthew 11:28-30
Wednesdays are usually very long but very good days. I get to see the PreK kids learn about Jesus all around me. Our staff meets about upcoming opportunities for ministry. We have a crew from the staff that generally goes to lunch afterwards where we get to spend time together on a personal level. Then we get back and prep for our Wednesday evening programming for Hope Edge Kids and Hope Students. It’s awesome, because I get to see almost as many people as I do on a Sunday with the parents and adult leaders. I think my favorite part of late has been that I started playing guitar in the youth band! It’s helping me get back into my ministry first love (music) and forces me into a rhythm of practice which I don’t generally do without a reason.
There was a word that kept coming up this past Wednesday that carried multiple connotations: rhythm. It started in our lobby gaggle for staff meeting where we discussed the fast rhythms of Advent, followed by the slower rhythms of the actual Christmas season. After lunch, I looked at last week’s sermon video and was shocked by how much longer it was than I thought. I looked back over several weeks and realized my rhythm must be a little off, because my timing has drifted. It speaks to me about how even the most finely-tuned athlete can go into a slump, and almost everyone will say it has to do with losing their timing. I sat with staff members Brent, Meredith, and Christian, and we explored the upcoming week to try and help me recover timing rhythm with everything that must be included as we ramp up our ministry intensity. This is akin to top flight athletes like Freddie Freeman (Dear Atlanta Braves, please re-sign Freddie Freeman! Sincerely, Mark from Dallas, GA), or Tom Brady, or Trae Young needing coaches who can see things to which we are blind, and speak truth lovingly that needs to be heard. I am grateful for these people, specifically yesterday, and the others who perform that role in my life regularly.
The greatest example about my recent rhythm rut came as I was to start the last song for the youth band at the closing of their Wednesday service. Apparently, the cord for my in-ear monitor came loose while I sat during Brent’s message. I started the song, but then realized I could not hear the clicktrack (metronome) to get and keep me on time. I looked panickedly at the singer to see if I could see when she began, but the sound of my guitar drowned her out. I looked to the band leader, who looked at the drummer, who started playing to set the rhythm and get the song back on track. I felt two inches tall…I was supposed to help, but ended up hindering. The song ended beautifully, and no one else in the room seemed to notice, but I was stinging over it. I apologized to the team, and everyone spoke mercy to me. Later that evening, I sent some texts to thank everyone for their grace, and heard the thing I needed most to hear: I was told that they are grateful for how I extend grace when things don’t go as planned, and I need to do the same for myself.
So true. My rhythm was off.
I went into God’s Word this morning and was reminded how Jesus told us He wants to help us “learn the unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11:29, MSG). He indicated that fatigue, burnout, and busyness can cause us to get into rhythm ruts. Bear in mind, not all of those causes are negative; not at all, in fact! Some can be quite lovely, special, and meaningful. The truth remains, however, that we need to accept Jesus’ offer to get away from the hustel and bustel of life to recover our sense of rhythm. We need to learn from Him as the coach who sees us and can point out the little adjustments that we need to make to keep that rhythm. He is also one who will offer the truth in love when we need to hear it…not in a condescending way, but to help communicate things to which we are otherwise blind. You know, the times when you get busy, stressed, and tired, even from the best of things we get to do with and for others…not to mention God! So, find the necessary margin and get away to recover those unforced rhythms of grace. When you do, you will find the unmistakable restoration of your soul (Psalm 23:3).
