Rhythm of Life (Take 2)

A month or so ago I wrote about how we're settling into a rhythm of life.  Well, in all honesty, it's not so easy to create rhythm in any life.  Take the past 7 days, for example...

Unexpected Snow

Our part of Texas is not known for snow.  A week ago Thursday, however, we had the most snowfall the area has seen in about 32 years.  I know, I know, our family and friends back east don't even want to hear it.  But, as snow often is, it was both beautiful and disruptive.  A planned 3 day weekend for the kids (due to Presidents' Day on Monday) became a 4 day weekend -- a lot of fun for them, redefining my planned productivity for me.  Yes, yes, I should receive it as a gift, and in moments I did, but I also battled with a simmering frustration due to worry about untouched to-do lists

Nevertheless, we still had a lot of fun in it all -- our Team Building Time (now happening on Thursdays) had an added peace and beauty to it, the kids played and built and explored, snowball fights occurred, and we even had a fire in the fireplace and roasted marshmellows.

An added joy for the weekend was a visit from Leslie's youngest brother James and his new bride.  More snowball fights ensued (with added intensity, pain, and fun due to James' competitive nature and stinging accuracy), plus fun dinners, enjoying getting to know Cheri, and learning a new Ninja game with the kids.

Unsurprising Sickness

Sickness is just a part of winter.  One by one each member of the family fell prey to various forms of illness of the week.  Some vomiting, some sneezing, some in the middle of the night, some in the middle of the school day, all spaced throughout the week.  We're mostly over it now (kids still sound like Sleestacks), but the weariness and yuckiness dominated the week.

Life on the Farm

We're enjoying living on a farm, and it does involve helping out in new ways.  From time to time Granddad needs help feeding the animals, and I sling Julia onto my back and squelch through the mud to lend a hand unloading feed or tossing hay.  The kids have taken on three rabbits (Monty, Snowflake, and Sniffles), which involves not only regular feeding but also weekly dumping of rabbit dung and cleaning the cage.  It also means finding bunnies hopping throughout the house at odd hours, then hunting them down and returning them to their cage.  They have a remarkable ability for escaping.

Partner Development

That's what we call our support raising, and we really do see it as asking folks to partner with us in ways that are beyond just giving money.  But it requires a lot of time on the phone and writing email -- and very little of either were done last week because of the above occurrences.  Nevertheless, we received word from two more churches that they're partnering with us.  Additionally, the rector of my parents' church (Transformation Anglican) gave me time to speak in church this past Sunday, and several folks responded.  Also, a friend and past of a new church plant in Addison (Restoration Anglican) has invited me to preach twice at his church.  So even as we focus on caring for our family, God continues working behind the scenes.


These snapshots, I think, show how hard it is to create rhythm.  I'm beginning to think more along the lines of listening for the rhythm rather than creating it.  So much of life is beyond planning and control, and is comprised of interruptions and interventions.  Struggling against those things is frustrating; responding and rolling with them is so much better.  That's right in line with learning to respond to the presence of the living God rather than react to circumstances