Finding my rhythm

We were chatting about morning routines, and the things that are essential at the start of the day. One friend’s family members have learned not to ask any questions or expect any help from her before she’s had her first coffee. They know she’s not really conscious until she’s had coffee.

I don’t really have much in the way of consistent daily or weekly routines. You may have noticed that since I’m so sporadic with my writing and posts on Flourish! Having a routine seems somehow kind of boring, static and inflexible, as if that would characterise me if I kept to a routine. Computer programs have routines. (My apologies to those of you who function well precisely because you do have a routine.)

So, because words affect how I think and feel about something, and therefore how I act, I’ve been thinking that perhaps I need a different word.

Not so much a routine, as a rhythm, like a piece of music, a dance or a poem.

In her book, A million little ways^⁠1, Emily P. Freeman explains how the words workmanship or masterpiece are often used to translate the Greek word poiema in Ephesians 2:10, and that our English word poem has its origins in this word poiema. 

If I am a living poem, what might the rhythm of my life look like?

I like the idea of rhythm; pattern, flow, tempo. It feels more life-giving than routine.

There’s a lot to think about there, but I want to start here with you, with this blog. I want to experiment with establishing a rhythm to my offerings at Flourish!

Here are a few ideas I’m tossing about at present. I’d like to know if they resonate with you, or just make you feel like you’re travelling on a corrugated dirt road in a car with a dodgy suspension.

• Monthly Musings – thoughts on what I’ve discovered, experienced, learned in the last month
• OneWord365 – regular posts on my one word for this year (which is “trust” in case you were wondering)
• The Book Tour – thoughts / notes from the books I’m reading (monthly?)
• Themed series – and yes, I will get back to the series on Waiting.

If you have any ideas about what you’d like to see on Flourish! in 2015, I’m all ears. Join the conversation in the Comments section.

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¹ Emily P. Freeman, A million little ways: uncover the art you were made to live (Grand Rapids: Revell, 2013), 25.

Image source: morguefile.com

Never Give Up: Lessons from a 12-Year Old

I’m discovering that writing something every day that’s actually worth someone’s time to read is not easy. Some days I know exactly what I want to say; other days I have absolutely no idea. Like today.

On days like this it would be easy to say it doesn’t matter. And on one level, it doesn’t. There are much bigger things going on in the world than worrying about one little blog post.

But … it would also mean that I’m choosing to believe that today it’s too hard. Too hard to marshall my thoughts, and craft some words on the screen. And I know that I often give up too quickly, too easily. So this poem from a 12-year old was a timely reminder for me, not to give up. Maybe it will be encouraging for you too.