Rhythm

Countless time-management systems are based on the notion of “balancing” your life. Many Christian leaders talk about balance in the Christian life. But what if that paradigm is wrong? Maybe we should consider the idea of rhythm.

That’s the premise of the new book, Your Life In Rhythm by Bruce Miller. It makes sense. God has created a world that is based on natural rhythms, cycles, and seasons. Shouldn’t we live our lives in sync with God’s creation?

Bruce Miller describes two different types of time. The first is chronos that describes regular cycles like you would find with a clock or calendar. These are recurring and predictable patterns. The second is kairos that describes progressive flows. These are nonrecurring and less predictable patterns.

There are five fundamental chronos cycles. The first is the solar cycle (the time it takes for the earth to circle the sun). The second is a seasonal cycle (the quarters of the year illustrated by the equinoxes). The third is the lunar cycle (the time it takes for the moon to go around the earth). The fourth is the sabbatical cycle (the seven day week of creation). And the fifth cycle is the rotational cycle (the rotation of the earth).

A person living in rhythm will pay attention to these cycles in our lives. Many of us no longer live on a farm or are in touch with the cycles of creation, so we lost the concept of living in rhythm.

Ecclesiastes 3 provides a biblical example of kairos. Solomon’s famous poem has 14 couplets in which the word “time” is used 28 times. In this case, time is described like a season. There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to uproot. And there is a time to weep and a time to laugh. These aren’t done at once in balance but are done at different times or seasons.

I believe this book has the potential to change our view of balance and rhythm. Not only does it provide the theological framework necessary to view life in rhythm, but it has lots of practical suggestions and charts to help you live your life according to rhythm. The result will be more joy, peace, and fulfillment. I’m Kerby Anderson, and that’s my point of view.