New Re-Enchanting Rhythms
A fresh take on Resolutions
As Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, is how we spend our lives.”
Continuing to live out our days the same way, but adding new inspiring goals fails to change our days or our lives. I know this well because I’ve had lots of well intentioned resolutions that have failed. Not because the resolution itself wasn’t good, it just wasn’t sustainable without the necessary discipline and supportive routines and rythms.
I think about it like this: our resolutions or goals are like the sudden sparks needed to build a fire. The sparks alone though won’t actually make the fire happen. It also doesn’t take much work to create a spark. It does take work to gather sticks and assemble a structure of burn material. This is the necessary routine and rhythm that paired with the needed spark creates the lasting change we’re after–a glowing fire that brings warmth and light to our lives.
Richard Beck, Professor of Psychology at Abilene Christian University, explores the deeper motivations inside of us as he thinks on what causes us to change stuck patterns. He would tell us that we really need is to get re-enchanted with our own lives. Beck says, “Nurture enchantment by attending to aesthetics and the use of the sacramental. Fill your spaces with material reminders of spiritual realities; cultivate your physical world like you’d cultivate your garden. Train your attention the same way you’d train your body. Beyond space, enchant time as well . . . Wait during Advent. Celebrate during Christmas, all twelve days of it! Fast during Lent and party during Easter. Let God show you what time it is.”
So this year let’s not abandon making New Year's resolutions and resolutions throughout the year. Let’s just back them up with rhythms. Don’t just resolve to rest more as a family, pick a day every week to Sabbath and do it. Don’t just resolve to do better with taking care of one part of your emotional, spiritual, physical or relational weariness. Plan out and schedule new rhythms daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly that help you care for your whole soul.
-Travis
How do we live in rhythm?
By becoming the Beloved.
Or by cultivating practices of becoming aware of our beloved-ness.
I was reminded recently, in a Substack by
that Henri Nouwen has said,“We are the beloved. But we spend the rest of our lives becoming the beloved.”
Becoming the beloved involves a process of pulling the truth revealed to me from above down into the ordinariness of what I am thinking of, talking about, and doing from hour to hour. This is how our soul finds rest. This is cultivating and living in rhythm.
This is walking in the way that Jesus did… Matt 11:28-30
The Curious, the Contemplative, and the Cultivating way.
“God, help us clear off the things that have corrupted our lenses and clouded our eyesight. Turn our gaze back onto you from the many other things we are looking at for comfort, security, and hope. Fill our eyes wide with wonder and joy, reflecting the sparkling colors of beauty all around us. Beckon us back to the bonfire of your presence when we leave that holy blaze. Help us see with hope–deeper into things beyond the unseen in front of us. Let the world be struck by the shiny-ness we see through, so that they see you in us–in our eyes.”
(Prayer taken from the book Shiny Eyes: Seeing Better Through the Lenses of Joy, Tears, Beauty, and Hope) by Travis Vangsnes
Shiny Eyes Examen
Being curious let’s look back. Remembering back on 2023, contemplate, write and pray on these things:
JOY
What things, people, or experiences gave you joy this past year? These are gifts from God. Offer thanks to him for them.
TEARS
What brought sadness and tears this past year? Maybe you haven’t let yourself be sad. What have you maybe not grieved but should? Spend some time reflecting and ask for God’s presence to be near as you do so.
BEAUTY
Where have you experienced beauty this past year? It could be experiences in nature, traveling, creating things, being with friends and family, and the list goes on and on. Thank God and ask that he open your eyes to seeing more beauty this year.
HOPE
What did you find hope in this past year? Ask God to continue to help you see through eyes full of hope.
Now looking forward… All that has life has rhythm. The days, the tides, the weather, and even our biology.
“Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances.”Maya Angelou
“The key to the abundant life is learning to live in rhythm.”
Stephen W. SmithHow do you live a life of love, joy and peace that Jesus desires for us?
“Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life… There is nothing else.” - Dallas Willard
Today we will just pause and reflect on the Rhythms of this last year before rushing ahead to what 2024 needs to be. There will be time to cultivate forward motion.
Today let us REST in what has been.
We invite you to write , pray or just listen to what God has said to you.