Rhythms of Life
Lub-dub, Lub-dub
feeling my heart’s
whooshing rhythm
miraculously
filling body with
vitality whether
awake or sleeping.
All around and for all time
human hearts beat in rhythm
Lub-dub, Lub-dub, Lub-dub.
Even the forest
has a heartbeat
nourishing holy peace.
From the first breath
until the last
our hearts beat in
rhythm with the
strong and calming
Heartbeat of God.
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Psalm 139 (CEB) A song of David
Lord, you have examined me.
You know me.
You know when I sit down and when I stand up.
Even from far away, you comprehend my plans.
You study my traveling and resting.
You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways.
There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord,
that you don’t already know completely.
You surround me—front and back.
You put your hand on me.
That kind of knowledge is too much for me;
it’s so high above me that I can’t reach it.
Where could I go to get away from your spirit?
Where could I go to escape your presence?
If I went up to heaven, you would be there.
If I went down to the grave,[a] you would be there too!
If I could fly on the wings of dawn,
stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean—
even there your hand would guide me;
even there your strong hand would hold me tight!
If I said, “The darkness will definitely hide me;
the light will become night around me,”
even then the darkness isn’t too dark for you!
Nighttime would shine bright as day,
because darkness is the same as light to you!
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God Abides With You
How often I ponder the rhythms of life. Included in the pews of the 10 am worship service are families from East Africa. One beautiful baby named “Precious” cuddles with her mother each week. Across the aisle, our Sunday School kids keep squirming to a minimum with a pre-planned activity.
Long-time members have memories of generations of children growing up in the church. My heart is warmed when thinking of our daughter singing along with hymns even before learning how to read or write, and our sons perfecting artwork over the course of weekly sermons!
Over the years, my husband and I moved from Iowa to Texas, returned to Iowa, and then five different cities and towns in Nebraska. Each move was very difficult at first, packing up, leaving tearful family and friends, and saying farewell to the home itself. Yet, blessings were found wherever we lived. Our homes reflected the need for more space as our family grew. When they left, we found a smaller townhome that has all the basics on one floor.
In time we release things that we used to feel were essential during our accumulating phase of life.
I hold in my heart the day my mother insisted I take my great-grandmother’s old trunk she’d taken to college. For now, it sits in a prominent place in our dining room. One day we will pass on this antique on to someone else. One of my husband’s most valued possessions is his grandfather’s hammer. It was a great gift to receive it from this very important person in his life. The strong man who taught him how to build and make other people’s dreams come true!
Of course, life changes over time and if we look back to our childhoods we may laugh (or cry) upon seeing little familiarity. Perhaps we might think of mourning as a unique way of celebrating the gifts we’ve been given and those we have loved. It is a way of letting go. Even while mourning we pray along with the Psalmist, “Take away my anxious thoughts.” Over time, instead of focusing on what we lose when life changes, we choose our most precious items, then look at what we might gain when no longer with burdened with taking care of unlimited things.
There are many pluses to living in community and sharing your life with others. Even though change is difficult, eventually life won’t seem so lonely and overwhelming after all.
Finally, wherever you may be, we are praying for you. Know that God abides with you.
Great is God’s faithfulness!
Rev. Marta Wheeler