Hosanna Wong points to a path of reflection, self-discovery and communion with God. This journey introduces “a new rhythm that leads to a lighter, fuller, and more satisfying life.” Wong begins by exposing the many lies we hear in life: you are not enough, you don’t do enough and your past defines you. These noises often dominate how we perceive reality in a broken world. But God’s will for His followers is to embrace a new name: child of God. But there are many things to unlearn before we can fully live out this truth.
Christian discipleship is like starting a new kind of childhood. As God commands us to become like little children (Matthew 18:3), he is allowing us to start afresh each day with a natural rhythm to just be ourselves. Jesus practiced this rhythm of prayer, solitude and thanksgiving. Take solitude for example. Our chaotic lives with jobs, chores, and children often fight against it. As the author puts it, “We immerse ourselves in the updates of others, yet we have still not caught up with what’s going on inside ourselves.” Without this soul-nourishing time with ourselves and with God, life becomes empty.
“Our attractions to busyness and addiction to distractions has left us numb,” she writes. For this reason rest, sabbath and freedom are also parts of Jesus’ rhythm of life. Even in ancient times, busyness was an idol. Today it may take the form of material fulfillment or a sense of achievement in this world. Yet Jesus once said, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” To practice rest is to provide soul-care for ourselves.
Lastly, Jesus also lives by the rhythm of real community. From the beginning of creation, God has “interwoven togetherness.” It is undeniable that we are made for relationships. But the temptation for isolation is always there, either due to the digital age or the growing competitiveness of society. “As impressiveness and prestige become the most highly awarded traits, people are trading character and consistency for moments of superiority, making others our greatest competition, and seeing others’ accomplishments as a threat to our own,” Wong writes. The cure for this malaise is to practice celebration in community, including celebrating your marriage, friendships, and your walk with God. Nurturing genuine, heart-felt, and celebrated relationships are a form of resistance against the cultural winds of this world.
This book has thirteen short chapters, with each one ending with guided questions for reflection and practical tools. The format makes it an ideal material for small group study, especially among a diverse group of young professionals who can relate to the author’s life trajectory. (W Publishing Group)
About the Author
Mary Li Ma is a member of Plymouth Heights CRC church in Grand Rapids, Mich. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and now works as a research analyst for a national research center on education equity.