The Rhythm of Life

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” ESV Psalm 46:10

Having visited India just a few weeks ago, I am still fascinated with the contrast in cultures. As I gazed out the car window one day, with what I suppose was either a look of bewilderment or fascination, my traveling companion noted that the “rhythm of life” was different in India when compared to the United States.

The sheer mass of humanity in India (depending on your source something on the order of 1.1-1.3 billion people populate India) would lead one to believe that life is chaotic and frantic there, but that didn’t seem to be case. Ironically, things seemed to move in a very methodical, fluid and sometimes ancient fashion.

In the rural regions I visited I also noted the absence of leisurely distractions. It seemed to me that everyone was fully engaged, from early in the morning till late, late at night, in the simple activities of daily living; earning wages for the day and providing for the needs of their families. The concept of daily entertainment or retirement would seem strange to most of the people I met; yet their lifestyles yielded a rather peaceful rhythm of life.

In stark contrast, it seems that here in the United States we try to cram as much productivity into an 8 to 10 hour work day as possible so that we can entertain ourselves and our families each and every evening and look forward to retiring at a relatively young age from our labors. The result is a frantic rhythm of life.

Yet it seems that in both countries the rhythm of life leaves little time for the God of the bible. I specifically mention “God of the bible” because we most certainly have time to worship other things in both cultures.

The Psalmist warns against ignoring God. The first sentence of our verse “Be still and know that I am God” is well known and often quoted as an encouragement to slow down from the frantic rhythm of life and take a deep, relaxing breath. And while I would agree that it is refreshing to pause and enjoy with wonder the Creator of heaven and earth for a moment, this verse also carries a stark statement of fact that is a warning to us that God is more than a refreshing aside.

There will come a time, notes the Psalmist, when “I [God] will be exalted among the nations, I [God] will be exalted in all the earth.” You see, the “God of the bible” should be the very fabric of our daily lives. He is deserving of our worship and attention every moment and He should be the object of our obsession in the rhythm of life. He most certainly will be the lone object of our worship and adoration one day, and He most certainly should be today.