We have been in a weekend of “unforced rhythms”. We’ve had no set schedule. Some of us have woken early morning and used the ocean as our entry into the day, others have woken late and sipped coffee slowly on the couch.
I have no illusions that these times will last. I don’t think they are supposed to last. Reality creeps in no matter how much we push it aside. The bitter taste of unmet expectations is a part of every gathering at some level.
But this is no reason to not continue to strive for times where grace and peace are the order of the day. Where I am learning the “unforced rhythms of grace”.
“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.” – Matthew 11:28,29 from The Message
How about you? Have you had moments of peace and grace? How do you keep those alive when all of life crowds in?
Marilyn R. Gardner 
Enjoying “unforced rhythms” — love the interpretation.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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But reading these words I realize I LOVE them far better than the Message! They never grow old! Thanks for writing these down.
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Marilyn, the posted photos are a treat. We enjoyed a few days at the Sea of Cortez and discovered God’s nature while scuba diving. What a wonderful world we live in, I hope you have a good summer, Petra
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This past week I cancelled everything….I completely stripped my week bare to allow for these unforced rhythms. It’s been a restorative blip on the screen of my normal crazy reality…and I’ve loved every second of it. Sometimes putzing around in my yoga pants, cleaning out a cupboard, sitting watching a movie, reading a longer chapter in a book, having a second cup of coffee, weeding a persistent patch in the flower bed…sometimes that’s exactly what the Doctor ordered.
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PS: I LOVE the picture of the window screen…let’s make that the new “regular” back ground for CAB? And I love this font too…is this the original font?
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No – new font :) Soooo glad you noticed and you like it! Do you think we should have a regular or go with the random?
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Love this – especially the second cup of coffee piece. The pictures above were taken while drinking a cup of coffee on a bench. Pure beauty and grace.
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Thanks Marilyn, for your scenes of peace and grace there on the ocean banks. We also had a time of unforced rhythms of grace this week. Ours was lakeside. I appreciated the fact that rain kept the noisy boaters, skiers, etc. off the water. Just sitting on the porch with the water in view, and surrounded by trees that accepted the falling rain was a most soothing time. Today our pastor’s message was about sowing and reaping with the emphasis on sowing; sowing seeds of grace. Great thoughts.
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Love this and loved the picture I saw of you on the porch. Rain has a way of helping us feel those rhythms of grace doesn’t it?
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