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Thursday, April 24, 2008

Koyaanisqatsi or vyinafeshing?

Our church is doing an all church small group study of the book "I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt". I highly recommend this read to anyone who isn't already involved in the study. As I was preparing for small group on Tuesday evening I was really convicted of several things. Here is what I learned:
1. Jesus' method of caring for people was to focus on the person standing right in front of him. I typically view the person in front of me as an obstacle to accomplishing my true mission, but Jesus viewed the person in front of him as his true mission.
2. Jesus knew how to say no. He would leave the crowds behind and go off and commune with the Father. He prayed.
3. Jesus said, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll 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." Matt 11:28-30

Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi Indian word meaning "life out of balance" or "crazy life" or "life in turmoil."

Vyinafesh is a Hebrew word in the Old Testament related to Sabbath that expresses what happens when we live a life where we walk with God at the spiritual speed of love. It will lead us to an intentional life of deeply loving God and people, a life of being fully present in every moment, a life of Sabbath rest. The word is found in Exodus 23:12 and means to "rest, be refreshed, i.e. to cease from an activity, resulting in rest and refreshment from a weary state."

So my question for myself is Koyaanisqatsi or Vyinafeshing?
And my challenge for myself is this
1. practice moving at the speed of love
2. focus on the person standing in front of me
3. take a real rest

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

thank you for writing this post. it was a good little kick in the pants. :)

it was fun hangin w/ you and the kiddos. definitely more in the future and if you still have a pool this summer, we would LOVE to join you :)

Anonymous said...

This hit home with me as well...especially after the day I had.
ditto on the pool..;)
see you tomorrow night.
love
R