Unforced Rhythms of Grace

This month I thought I would start by sharing some statistics:

It has been busy. February, March April is often the busiest time for me. Our medical capacity building projects are in full swing, many of the big surgeries are happening as word has got out that we 'really can help people', and we are full steam ahead into planing projects for the next field service.

Jesus was busy too. Frequently we read in the bible that even when Jesus tried to move away from the crowd, or to find a quiet solitary place to pray, the crowds followed Him, or somehow managed to find Him. Never does He turn them away. Never is He irritated that they found Him and interrupted His plans. Always, He welcomes them, teaches them and gives......gives of Himself, His time, His talents, and his energy. How did He do it? How did He manage to keep up this seemingly relentless pace of life and at the same time always seem to be calm, and never stressed.

I have thought often about this, living and working where I do. Often there is little time to myself. Evenings, weekends, even first thing in the morning in the dining room, there is often something clamouring for attention, someone needing something, a visitor, a friend, a partner for one of our projects. How can I respond with the same attitude of Jesus?

Matthew 11:28-30 gives me a clue - "Come to me. Get away and you will recover your life. I will show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me, watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

I spent some time in my hammock today. Resisting the temptation to answer emails, do more work. And I mediated on this verse. What does it look like to 'learn the unforced rhythms of grace' - even in the heat of the busyness? 

Most of the time it is pleasure, a privilege, a honour to respond to the demands on my time - just like Jesus did.  With joy and grace. But sometimes it is hard. Sometimes I wonder how on earth I will get everything done. Sometimes it just feels too busy. It is at times like this that I remember, how time and time again, Jesus gives us what we need, when we need it. SO many times in my life I have felt like  - 'God just expanded my time!' I don't know how it happened, but it did. A car journey that was supposed to take 8 hours, takes 5-6. A piece of work gets done much quicker than expected. A sick patient gets better quicker than expected - miraculously so - and I end up with a whole extra day I didn't anticipate. Yes, I HAVE SEEN ALL THESE THINGS. So I am learning to trust that there is a time under the sun for everything. 

So right now in midst of a very busy season I am trying to 'come to him.....let him show me how to take a real rest.....Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.' And to believe his promise that he really, truly 'won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on me.' And that His desire for me is that I 'live freely and lightly.' 

And the more I fix my eyes on him, the more I know that it is possible, even in the busyness, even with all that is on my plate. 

SO I look forward to writing again in a months time, with more statistics and more stories. Testimonies to an incredible God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.