The Hebrew evening/morning sequence conditions us to the rhythms of grace. We go to sleep, and God begins His work. As we sleep he develops his covenant. We wake and are called out to participate in God’s creative covenant. We respond in faith, in work. But always grace is previous. Grace is primary. We wake into a world we didn’t make, into a salvation we didn’t earn. Evening: God begins, without our help, his creative day. Morning: God calls us to enjoy and share and develop the work he initiated. Creation and covenant are sheer grace and there to greet us every morning (68).
Though Peterson's book was originally written for pastors, I think his message about the perils of busyness and preoccupation to the external applies to parents. As a mother trying to forge strong rhythms/routines for children, it's so easy to become overwhelmed. I love books and blogs that encourage simplicity, but in real life, I am messy. At any given time, there are many corners in my house that are cluttered. And my heart? It's often fraught with thoughts of inadequacy and wanting to be a better mother and wife but knowing fully that I fall woefully short. I keep on finding that mothering itself is not truly satisfying. Only Jesus is. And it is when I rest in God's grace that I have the strength and inspiration to truly become the mother God wants me to be. From beginning to end, it's grace.
4 comments:
Amen! Beautifully said! On a different note, have you seen This Woman Still Wants to Get Married?
Interesting take on the interaction between grace and faith/work. Speaking of sleeping, have you seen Inception?? =)
No, but I heard it was a good movie. Did you like it?
It might be quite the mind bender, but I did like Inception very much. You can say it was a meditation on time (management)!
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