RHYTHM OF LIFE

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I think in terms of RHYTHM. I love RHYTHM. True rhythm oscillates. It naturally causes us to tap our feet, bob our heads, dance, clap, snap, sway and move. The beauty of rhythm is the natural, unforced response it generates. It starts a little at a time, then slowly progresses, until finally…your fully engaged. I love it! There’s a call and response involved. Rhythm calls…we…RES…POND. It’s natural. It’s unforced. And we’re in. RHYTHM MOVES US like nothing else can – when nothing else can.

My hero once said, “Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the UNFORCED RHYTHMS of grace” Matt. 11:28-30 (MSG). Jesus was all about the rhythm – creating a flow that others could be drawn to, make sense of, and engage HIS “DANCE OF LIFE.” I’ve heard HIS RHYTHM, felt his flow and find myself dancing, swaying, and learning HIS UN-FORCED RHYMES OF GRACE.

That’s my life’s desire. To respond to RHYTHM and produce RHYTHM. I desire to set RHYTHMS that will cause people to dance and move; naturally, unforced, yet engaged. In creating RHYTHMS, I enable others to feel the RHYTHM, add to the RHYTHM, dance to the RHYTHM. It’s about call and response.

So how about you? Are you living in RHYTHM – responding and creating? If you’re finding it hard to dance, He’s willing to teach. He’s a great teacher – the best in fact. He’s patient, gentle, engaging, and a ton of fun. He invites us to “learn HIS UNFORCED RHYTHMS.”

I’m living HIS RHYTHM – no one else can flow and cause me to dance quite like HE can.

“I’ve got rhythm; I’ve go movement…who could ask for anything more? -GEORGE AND IRA GERSHWING

Rhythm Writer

I am a man. Not just any  man…but a man’s man. I am also a son, a father, a husband, a friend, a pastor, a mentor, a leader, a radical, a visionary, a futurist, a revolutionist…and yes…I am a man. These are the roles that color my perspective; they add different shades to my world views. I must admit that distinguishing between them at times eludes me. There are moments I approach my wife not as a husband, but as a radical (she has much to say about this…sorry hun). My son gets a dose of the pastor in me, when the moment requires the father. In unscripted hang out sessions, the leader in me takes center stage when I present a drawn out dissertation as to why we should order Chinese over pizza, and rent ROCKY III rather than…well, any other movie. My roles elude me.

Yet, there are random moments where I am reminded…I am reminded of who I really am. I am HUMAN. A human that so happens to pastor a community. A human who romances his wife for better or worse. A human who offers support, direction, encouragement and love to his son. A human who journeys through life with a clan of individuals referred to as friends. I AM HUMAN.

This liberates me from the captivity of “roles.” I am free to be me…a human who lives, loves, and laughs. A human who cries, worries, and fails. I am free to be me, because I am loved as me.

So the human IN me diffuses the roles OF me. Not that roles are not important, but rather, they serve as a shade of WHAT I am, yet do not define WHO I am. WHO I am defines, shapes, refines, and directs WHAT I am.

I am a follower of Christ…an apprentice of His craft, His ways, His life. I do my best to orient my life according to His teaching and way of life. This is the reality that frames WHO…I…AM.

So my writings to you will be raw, random and real. At times they will be filtered through my roles, and colored with my perspective. Other times they will flow unedited and unpackaged, allowing you the beauty of translation and interpretation. Yet, my hope is that the rhythm in my writing may cause your heart to dance, your soul to sing, and your mind to do what it does best…THINK.

Help me welcome myself to the fascinating world of RHYTHM WRITING.

I now add to my roles…BLOGGER.