Rhythms of the Way
Nurturing Growing & Resilience Disciples of Jesus
Welcome to Rhythms of the Way, a space to consider how we can be deeply formed in the likeness and Way of Jesus that is written and curated by Rev. Kristen Yates.
(Please pardon the dirt and dust. This Website is being reimagined and restructured at the moment so there may be things that are missing. In Phase I, I have gotten the basics up, and I’ll get the rest up just as soon as I can! In the meantime, you can access some of my former pages in this Archived Resources page. I’ll eventually rework a lot of it to fit more closely with the Website, but for now, here is what I previously wrote so it doesn’t get completely lost in the meantime.)
People of the Way
The earliest Christians were known as the People of the Way. This is because Christianity was not just about holding onto certain beliefs; it was about a way of living in the world as one followed in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth, who referred to Himself as the Way. And yet, in modern times, it is fairly typical to reduce the Christian faith to simply holding onto the right beliefs. Yet, the call on Christians today is the same as it has always been. We are to be People of the Way — apprentices of Jesus who not only believe in Jesus but put our faith and trust in the love, care, and provision of God. We are to be people who seek to find our identity and purpose in Jesus, learning to embody what Jesus was about and being transformed by the Holy Spirit into Jesus’ image. Our call is to “look and act like Jesus” as we grow in intimacy with our Loving God.
Gardeners of the Soul
Rhythms, Nurturing Rhythms & Weeds
But what exactly does it look like to follow Jesus in the everyday details of our lives and to open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit so He can help us look like Jesus? This is the question I attempt to answer on this Website by focusing on specific rhythms, practices, and nurturing environments that can help us become mature and resilient disciples of Jesus. And because over the years, I have come to see that discipleship has much in common with the work of tending a garden, I use gardening imagery (nutrients, fertilizers, nourishing environments, weeds, trellis, etc.) throughout the Website to help us grasp our journey ahead.
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The Rhythms of Gardening
If you have ever planted a garden, you know it involves intentional, nurturing rhythms of preparing the ground, planting seeds, watering, fertilizing, weeding, controlling pests, pruning, and much more. One must work to do their part to nurture an environment that fosters health and growth and then must watch and wait. The reality is that there are no instant gardens. Gardens require continual care and patience.
Moreover, as much as we can plan for the kind of garden we want, the ultimate results and fine details are ultimately out of our control. We can’t dictate the exact branch on which a rose will grow or the exact number of roses that will bloom. We can’t prevent an unexpected windstorm from knocking over flowers we have lovingly planted. And we can’t totally prevent weeds from sneaking into our garden, although we can be ready to pull them out when they show up. Thus, there is always an element of surprise when we are gardening, and we have to learn to approach the process with attentiveness and a degree of open-handedness.
The Rhythms of Discipleship
Gardening is a beautiful and rewarding endeavor, and I love thinking about all that goes into the gardening process. I also believe it is a great metaphor for discipleship. Just as we must work, watch, and wait for a garden to grow, we must work, watch, and wait for the the Fruit of the Spirit to grow within us and form us into the likeness and Way of Jesus.
Discipleship requires intentional rhythms of nurture and care, attentiveness, patience, and openhandedness. There is no instant experience of being a fully mature disciple of Christ. Nor, can we achieve spiritual maturity on our own. Spiritual maturity is the work of the Holy Spirit that only comes as we rest in God’s great love for us, notice God’s work in our lives, and cooperate with God, but when we do cooperate with God, we slowly but surely, grow “healthy spiritual roots, branches, leaves, and fruit”
The Structure of This Website
Simply speaking, the Website is structured around the following ideas: four keystone rhythms or nutrients of discipleship that bring nourishment; four spiritual fertilizers per rhythm — habits and postures of faith that help us follow Jesus; four environmental conditions in our hearts, homes, and churches that are favorable to growth and resiliency; and various weeds of culture that choke out our life with Jesus. Each section has its own blog that shares insights and practices to help you go deeper. Also, under the rhythms section, you will find discussion on how to build a spiritual trellis - a Rule of Life.
What’s in Your Soil?
Spiritual Nutrient & Fertilizers
What’s in Your Environment?
Spiritual Air, Water, Space, & Light
Weeding and Pruning Your Garden
Weeds of Culture
