Seasons are inherently unbalanced . . .
The watchword for seasons isn’t balance. It’s rhythm.
We crave balance but need rhythm.
For everything there is a season . . .
But here’s what I keep trying to say: It’s impossible to pursue anything without forsaking other things. It’s impossible to live in the grip of a pursuit and manage it in some balanced way. By their very nature, grand pursuits demand sacrifice. They require that we live gloriously lopsided. Magnificently obsessed . . .
I recommend we abandon the dream of balance . . .
~Mark Buchanan in Spiritual Rhythm: Being with Jesus Every Season of Your Soul
In the stillness,
Sandy
Welcome to the Still Saturday Community where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and reflect on the depth of sparse words. We’d love for you to join us. Grab the button and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to be still together, to gaze long and drink deep.
Whenever I think of trying to achieve balance, my mind always returns to the Albatross…the Gooney Bird of fame and legend.
Watching him try to get airborne is a hoot; he flops and he flails and he’ll drag a wing and spin in a helpless circle. But out of that chaos arises the magnificent wanderer of the seas, who might not touch land again (and who can blame him?) for half a year.
Thanks for that, Andrew. I need to go back and read about the albatross. And maybe I need to read the Rime of the Ancient Mariner–I don’t remember doing so.
Hi! Nice captures. I think so that the rhythm is very important for our life. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, so much, Minoru, and for linking. I’m learning to lean into the rhythm. 🙂
“…grand pursuits demand sacrifice.”
I can easily look back over the years and see this truth, but at the time I refused to let go of something already on my plate. “I can do it all.” I told myself. So, of course, none of my “pursuits” were close to being all they could be.
But chronic illness humbled me…forcing me to sacrifice. Some days, my “grand pursuits” have been “just do one thing.” And the miracle is that I’m more content and at peace with that than I could have imagined.
Have a wonderful weekend, my beautiful Sandy friend. xoxox
You speak wisdom, Patricia. I hate that God allows you to carry that thorn, but I wonder if you’d wear yourself out loading up your plate otherwise. But now you’re forced to find a rhythm and go with the flow. I still hate it, but what beauty we might all miss. Love you big.
And while we’re at it, let’s abandon the dream of “perfect” and “predictable.”
Thanks, Sandra, for this slice of wisdom from a voice I’ve not heard before.
You would love Mark Buchanan, Michele. One of my favorite of his books is The Rest of God.
I love the thought of seeking rhythm instead of balance. so powerful and it feels so true within my heart.
Thanks Sandra for this beautiful Saturday morning interlude of stillness moving into the rhythm of my day.
Life just does not lend itself to balance. At least mine doesn’t. There’s much more stillness in rhythm. So glad to see you today, friend.
May we be magnificently obsessed with him and caught up in the rhythm of His dance! Thanks for the beautiful post & for hosting! God bless.
Thanks, Laurie. Let’s see… today shall we waltz, swing, or tango… 😉
“We crave balance but need rhythm.” Totally agree. Different seasons require different things. What you can balance in one you may not be able to balance in another and that’s perfectly fine. We need that rhythm. Thanks Sandra. 🙂
I think I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to achieve balance–which is practically impossible for me on so many levels, especially since I’m such a klutz. 😉
But rhythm… I can get into that.
Thanks so much for your constant presence and encouragement here, Jason.