The Rhythm of Life

 

Today was apparently the second highest tide of the century here at Kidwelly. I went down to the quay hoping that there would be a stiff breeze giving a great picture, only to find that it was as calm as.... calm can be, which truth be told is actually good. A high tide and high wind is bad news for a lot of people living close to the valley which feeds into the estuary here.

But it did remind me of the natural rhythms of nature and life in general - the tides, the seasons, the migration of birds, night and day, our own body's rhythms - they are at the centre of what we are and the world we live in.

Christine Sine, in her new book (Click Here)  'Light for the Journey - Morning and Evening Prayers for Living into God’s World' reminds us that rhythm should also be at the centre of our spiritual life as we commit ourselves to regularly spending time in prayer, Bible study, meditation and listening to God. This is a habit that has got lost amidst the rush of everyday life, but that was appreciated by the early Christians in our land.

Seize the moment!

My mother, who lives with us, suffers from dementia. The main problem is that her memory is shot, unable to remember what she did just a couple of hours ago. Life gets very confusing when that happens.

She copes well, keeps quite positive, but you can sense inner frustration.

One thing she can appreciate is the world around her. She loves trips out, and the beauty of flowers and the countryside. Each trip, even if to familiar places is a new adventure!

She has to live moment by moment because that is all she has. And she gets all that she can out of that moment, even if the memory fades so quickly.

In our Christian lives we too often dwell on the past and forget to make the most of 'the moment'

Seize each moment as precious, and use it wisely. Enjoy it for what it is, a gift from God!