Staying in Rhythm

      I know very little about the Olympic sport of rowing, but I have learned some interesting facts that may be useful in our spiritual life. The rowers sit in the boat facing backwards, looking while they row towards a person called a coxswain. The coxswain has the important job of steering the boat and calling out the cadence for the rowers to find and keep a consistent rhythm. The rowers must keep their eyes on the coxswain as well as listening very intently to the instructions as they are called out. The rhythm of the oars going in and out of the water is set by the coxswain and must be maintained in order for correct speed and direction to be achieved.

      As we think of rhythm, our thoughts may go the natural cycles of the world in which we live. The writer of Ecclesiastes gives us a list of the rhythms and cycles of life and nature. In chapter five we find “to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose… A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to harvest.” The list goes on as we begin to see rhythms in our natural, as well as, our spiritual lives.

      If we look closely at the manner in which we live our lives, we will begin to see patterns and rhythms, and the ups and downs of the human existence. Seasons of the year often contribute to the rhythms of our lives. Habits are formed, and then broken. We find ourselves doing certain activities consistently and in a certain rhythm, and then suddenly, one day we realize that the rhythm has changed. Sometimes situations and events change our rhythms, and it is uncomfortable and undesirable.

      If an activity is done for a considerable length of time at the same rhythm, the activity can become boring, losing its purpose and excitement. Maybe that is why we subconsciously from time to time change the rhythm of our work and play time. We go to bed earlier, and maybe get up earlier. We change the time we eat our meals, or what we eat. We take a vacation, or do something different each weekend. These are changes in rhythm.

      This brings us back to the rowers and their coxswain. In the river or the ocean of life, we are the rowers on our faith journey, facing backwards, not knowing exactly where we are going. However, we are not rowing alone, because we have Jesus as our coxswain. He is the one who calls out the directions, who provides the rhythm of journey, and keeps his eyes on us.

As we row, we find ourselves in unity with the others, but only as long as each person stays in rhythm with Jesus.

      Just as the coxswain becomes the center of the rowers’ existence, Jesus must become the center for the true disciple. It is around this center that all other activities of life must revolve. Without Jesus providing the rhythms of our journey, we lose our way. So let’s stay in rhythm with Jesus.

Rev Tim McConnell, Long’s Chapel UMC, August 5, 2012