Out of Rhythm
November 26, 2008
For the last five days my family and I have been on vacation. We drove to western Nebraska where my wife’s parents have a ranch spending lots of time together as a family. It’s been good. But when I am away from home and out of my normal routine, I find that my goal of entering into a sacred rhythm gets knocked out of whack. Without my favorite chair and easy internet access it’s hard to make it happen.
I miss it. There is no doubt that those 2-3 times of “entering in” to a time of guided prayer have a way of centering my heart and soul. So when I travel or have unusual additions to my calendar I need a back up.
This week I found myself, early in the morning and late at night, praying what words I could remember from CDP. While not as rich as usual, I found that even when relying on my imperfect memory I can still “enter in” to that rhythm of prayer.
One other note, the prayer keeps going, whether I show up or not. When I return to it I don’t have to start from scratch or make up for time missed. The prayer of sacred rhythm is not something one does as much as something one enters into. Neither proud nor self-condemning I feel invited and welcomed, once again, into a regular rhythm with God.
Oh, satisfy us early with Thy mercy,
that we may rejoice and be glad all of our days.
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us;
and establish Thou the work of our hands.
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Paul,
Your experience is mine. Your sentiments are mine. The longing never goes away while we are away from the routine. Contentment returns when we are back in it.
It would be interesting and important, I think, to explore what a being away from routine spirituality might look like. These ramblings came to mind.
1. There may be more natural beauty to bask in. A voiced admiration of beauty is a form of prayer. A rhythm of appreciating the beautiful around us is prayerful.
2. Family conversations in the presence of the Holy One create a sort of communal spirituality that is necessary to balance the individualistic spirituality of many.
3. Journaling experiences while away from routine may also be a beneficial discipline for a week.
4. A listening spirituality rather than a speaking spirituality gives us good balance in our sacred rhythm. In times where the saying of prayers routine is hindered for any reason, a listening to the voice of God in what member of the family say, what others say, what life says is welcomed.
Glad you’re back in the rhythm of things.
I remember these words from the meditation on the first day of the month. It fits with this same idea of rhythm.
It is a difficult
lesson to learn today,
to leave one’s friends
and family and deliberately
practise the art of solitude
for an hour or a day
or a week.
For me, the break
is most difficult …
And yet, once it is done,
I find there is a quality
to being alone that is
incredibly precious.
Life rushes back into the void,
richer,
more vivid,
fuller than before!
Anne Morrow Lindbergh