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Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
- Mark 1:35, NIV
There is a rhythm to life. There is the normal day/night rhythm -- though some research suggests the presence of light 24/7 has thrown that off. There are weekly rhythms, monthly rhythms, and even the rhythms based on our Earth making an orbit around the Sun. Life has rhythm. Not following the natural rhythm of life can cause some tension.
Our spiritual lives also have a rhythm. The verse above from the first chapter of Mark's gospel gives us a glimpse into the spiritual rhythms of the life of Jesus. He gets up before dawn to go away by himself and pray. I wonder if that was his daily rhythm? It is mine - most of the time. I get up early, usually when our dogs awaken me, and I begin my day on our screen porch with my coffee. I read scripture and other Christian writings, pray, reflect, and journal. That's my daily spiritual rhythm.
My weekly spiritual rhythm is focused on Sunday worship. However, my Sabbath day of rest is Friday, because Sunday is a work day for me. Over the course of the year, I will take some time off for renewal during vacation or continuing education. About every seven years I take a sabbatical - a few months to renew my spiritual batteries.
This weekend about twenty of us are heading to the mountains of north Georgia for our annual Men's Retreat. (The JCPC Women's Retreat is not that far off, either.) This is a time for us to get away and find renewal. Not only do we have time to experience God's creation, we will also be inspired by a guest speaker. Some unstructured fellowship and Sunday worship are also part of the weekend. Please pray for our group as we seek to draw closer to God and to each other. I encourage you will find your own rhythms of spiritual renewal.
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