With my last entry lamenting the end of summer, I must say that I do enjoy the seasons, and even though I'm sad to see summer come to an end, I am looking forward to fall.For one thing, I was gone almost seven weeks this past summer... all good things, but I'm ready for a new season in which I can settle into a fulfilling and content rhythm at home and in our ministry role in the district.
Seasons are good. They give us permission to revise, to begin again, to refocus. Seasonal people (which I am), think, live, and work in "seasons," not necessarily in sync with the four calendar seasons (although this is often the case), but nonetheless, seasons... whether it's three months or a year. David Drury, pastor, writer, and author, first put me onto this with an article he wrote, Life Rhythm Theory, which he prefaces as an "unfinished piece." Still, I found it very valuable. Check it out at this site - it's a fascinating thought, and one that has given new dimensions as to how I function in life. From his descriptions, it became quite clear that I was a seasonal person. You may find that you are daily, weekly/monthly, or seasonal/yearly. One's not better than another... it's just the way we do life.
This new awareness enables me to function as I was made to! For too long I tried to fit into the daily person box and it just didn't work for me. This discovery has:
- given me permission to order my life around seasons
- freed me from being a guilt ridden non-daily person
- impacted how I enter in and engage in my spiritual growth
- allowed me to dive energetically into a season with a task in mind, knowing that when the season is over... task completed!
- empowered me to put perimeters on my commitments (I know that I work/serve best in a season that has an end to it)
- no wonder I love being a student (semesters with breaks :)
After reading Dave's article, let me know what you discover to be your life rhythm.
5 comments:
This entry was quite compelling. I have never been a daily person either. Almost detest day timers. Living in a tropical climate all-year around does not bother me as I am not a seasonal person either. Always, I grived that warmth had to end and I was forced along when I was not finished! The chunks of months in the greater year is my focus. Interesting how these tendencies speak to our relations with Christ. I don't know that I have the highs and lows as much as I sense the constant hum being either loud or softer, my ears needing to do the work of adjusting. We had a real vactation (not related to family,work or ministry) once and I have not forgotten how refreshing that was and finally understood why people took them!
Angela - glad this was helpful to you. Did you get a chance to read the article? Dennis has taught this theory to pastors in our district who have found the concept to be a freeing thing. Too often we live in guilt from our own or others expectations, striving to live in a harmony that isn't our own. It's nice to find that rhythm that is truly ours... learning the "unforced rhythms of grace" as the Message so eloquently puts it from Matthew 11:28-29.
Ah, Zippy! I'd forgotten about that. :) I had not forgotten, however, about you! Now that you're home and I'm starting to settle into a new routine, maybe we can meet to exchange the book and some conversation. :)
Oh, and I'd say I'm a daily person. I definitely have to know what day it is as soon as I wake up. But I've got a bit of the seasonal in me too. I love the weather-related seasons and the change they bring to my schedule.
Hmmm, I think I'm a monthly person. I like to look at each week and see what is coming up. I like schedules, but would drop some mundane things to go have coffee with a friend or my hubby. I LOVE completing tasks and checking them off my list, but wouldn't want to be tied down to a rigid daily routine. I like the idea of having longer periods alone with God versus a little bit each day. I read this artcle of Dave's a long time ago, but it was good to revisit it again :) Thanks Gwen,
Kristi B.
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