R n R this Summer!

Have you read The Power of Full Engagement?
The byline is “Managing Energy, Not Time, is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal.”
The basic premise of the book is that we have the best performance when we have intense periods of energy exertion, followed by a period of intentional rest.

This is a great concept; but the authors did not come up with the idea! Actually, it comes out of the first chapters of the Bible when God showed us his ideal rhythm for life. He created the universe for 6 days, declaring creation good and humanity very good, and then he took a nap!

Seriously, if God needs the rest, why do we ignore the basic rhythms of our body, soul and spirit?

Jesus took it one step further in John 15 when he gave us an invitation to hang out with him, calling it “abiding.” Read this Scripture as you hear Jesus give us one of the great keys to living a life of fulfillment:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches; those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Jesus’ invitation to us flies in the face of our culture. We hear and often believe that if we just stay on the treadmill of life we will be more successful.

But, Jesus tells us that if we learn to abide with him, finding ways to connect with the One who Created us, we will make an impact on the world; with our families, our vocations, our neighbors, our missio, all of it. It comes first with abiding and then going out to expend our energies on meaningful work.

One of our Missio Lux’ values is to live lives of purpose, balance and simplicity. We are seeking to model a different way of life to our culture; one that will attract people’s attention and cause them to take notice.

No one is going to notice us if we are constantly stressed; we will just blend in with the rest of the world. However, if we intentionally seek to live the rhythm of resting and working, of abiding and bearing fruit, back and forth, in balance with our natural rhythms, people are going to notice and want what we have because it is so appealing.

So, our summer plans are going to follow Jesus’ priorities to abide and bear fruit. We have been through an intense season of laying a foundation for a new way of living our faith andit’s time for some R n R: Relationship and Rest.

Everything we are doing this summer has R n R in mind:

Celebrations are going to be at Beaver Lake Pavillion and will be simple picnics designed to give us space to connect with God and one another, and tell the stories of what God is doing in our midst.

Concerts in the Park in Sammamish are awesome ways to connect with friends and enjoy a fun concert. We are meeting every Thursday from July 9th to the end of August.

Missio Communities are encouraged to practice a different rhythm, making gatherings simple, fun and filled with much room for relationships. Invite those into your experiences which will benefit from some R and R!

I will be practicing a rhythm of reading, reflecting, resting, writing and praying through the month of July. I am looking forward to what this season will bring as I stop the activity and meetings and abide; restoring the creative side God gave me.

But, best of all, find ways to connect with Jesus that are meaningful to you. If you like to hike, take a hike and spend time connecting with him. If you like to hang out in your hammock in your backyard reading, do it with permission! Jesus wants us to be relaxed and enjoy his company.

Next week I will be passing on some ideas for new ways to connect with Jesus through our Missio Lux summer of abiding. Until then, go have some good R n R with those around you!