The Unforced Rhythms of Grace

18 Oct The Unforced Rhythms of Grace

“The human spirit resides in us as a divine instrument with strings tuned to resonate with the rhythms of grace.”  (Ken Gire, The Divine Embrace)

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. (Jesus, Matt 11:28-30)

Some days I fall into bed at night, drained of every last ounce of energy, wondering why I am so very tired…worn out…burned out, perhaps. To be sure, there may be very real physical reasons for fatigue, but I have a hunch more often than not in our frenetic world, it is weariness of soul. It’s the deep disconnectedness between the longings of our heart and the demandedness of the duties of our soul.

What are the “unforced rhythms of grace” Jesus is talking about? And how do I learn them and live my life from them? It means slowing down, allowing my heart to release the hidden longings, longings I don’t give time or energy to. Better not to get in touch, because to do so might lead to disenchantment or worse, an ache for something more. And so, I allow the din of the day to drown out the desires and dreams of the heart.

But in the stillness of my quiet morning time with the Teacher of the unforced rhythms of grace, the longings rise from the depths of my spirit to break the surface of my soul…unexpected and unbidden. I am in touch.

Before the day begins, in the quiet of my home,

in the quiet of my soul,

Before the cacophony of sounds from the world around me rises to a deafening roar,

silencing the still, small voice and the gentle rhythms of grace…

Before the mundaneness of life streaming incessantly breaks the divine connection of spirit to Spirit…

In those moments, I call out to my spirit to arise, to take the reins of my soul and mind…to hear, once again, the gentle strains of the unforced rhythms of His grace.

And I find, from the core of my being, springs untapped creativity, divine inspiration, and enthusiastic incentive to embrace the longing once again. And to live “freely and lightly” within the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

~ Diane Fink