“Wholeness is falling in love with the same old sacred rhythms, the same old places, the same old miraculous people every day all over again. This is the way of Love Himself.”- Ann Voskamp
“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.”- G. K. Chesterton
“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession.”- Exodus 19:4-5 (ESV)
In Chapter 17 (“Honeymoon”), the final chapter of WayMaker, Ann Voskamp asserts that when we turn, always turn to novelty in a thousand ways, that makes our souls sick. Too sick to see the beauty in old familiar things.
Yet, an ecosystem that remains static — never changing, growing, even slowly — begins to die. Thus, the pursuit of an unchangeable state of happiness leads you to a stagnant state of despair. Consequently, Ann explains:
“Pursuing an unchangeable state of happiness will lead you to a stagnant state of despair. . . . There’s no such thing as unchanging happiness — happiness comes and goes like waves — and the only thing that is unchanging is change itself. Healthy relationships have a healthy relationship with the waves, with the rising and falling, believing that there will still be another way to rise. . . . What turns a life around is choosing a million small moments . . .”
In conclusion, Ann exhorts, turn to your First Love, to Abba WayMaker. Commit to go whatever way with Him. No matter what dead-end place you’re in or the crashing waves ahead. Because as long as God’s with you and you’re with God, you’re soul-safe on the way. And remember, the way is Person, Jesus. Not a place. Embrace the sacred rhythms.
Today’s question: What Bible verses sustain falling in love with the same old sacred rhythms? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of WayMaker
