Rhythm

I was too tired the other day to finish a post I had begun and so I lost a few paragraphs.  I sure it was very wise and interesting but I have been reminded to let go of things, so, so be it.   However I have so e things to reflect on now that may not have occurred to me a few days back.

One is that I can no longer say without considerable thought how long we have been walking.  Whe. I asked Kelly she said "YEARS." Not necessarily in a negative way.  I know that yesterday was Sunday so I guess I could count back from Sunday.  Best way I guess is to say we have been travelling for one week as of tomorrow. 

I attended the Sunday evening mass and had to try to translate the spainish and interpert the RC liturgy.   The second task was easier.   Greeting in the name of theTrinity, passing the peace of Christ, the invitation, the Sanctus, the Lords Prayer, the call for the presence of the Spirit, the benedictions, all were recognizable.   The language of faith and ritual and tradition, which brings me back to the reflection I starts the other day about language and rhythm.   

I have noticed that each language has a rhythm and even having a decent vocabulary without the rhythm of the language you are always a visitor to the language.  The rhythm shows up in folks in behaviour and attitudes as well.   I think I, heard once that language development in a child is more than just learning the langauge changes the brain.  Make sense to me.  

Interestingly I think this applies to church and faith as well.  There is a rhythm to the rituals and traditions of the church.  So even though I couldn't understood most of what the priest said last evening I felt I was part of the gathered people of God.  I knew the rhythm.   The question a church might wish to ask is if the rhythms of the life and worship of the congregation apparent?  Can someone catch on to the pattern?  Or is the rhyyhm so complex or subtle that is hard to find?  This "church rhythm" is not just in the worship but in the whole life of the church. 

Meanwhile the rhythm of life is very apparent on the pilgrimage: the daily pattern of sleeping, packing, eating, walking, eating, washing clothes, eating, and sleeping again,  the rhythm of the steps of the daily walk, the rhythm of the sun rising and setting and the moon rising at night and setting in the morning, and even in the sway for the wheat and flowers in the endless fields along the way. 

All our lives have these rhythms. We live by them and they give our lives meaning.  We see the rhythms in birth and death, and in all our normal mundane activities of life, and even in our bodies, breathing, and the beating of our hearts. 

Meanwhile we walk each day, in each our own way. 

Bill