Friday--catching up! What's going on in Niger?

The rhythms of life in Niger are so different to my life in the USA:

• The regular call to prayer five times per day....it can be very loud depending where one is situated (this reminds me-Am I praying regularly?)
• The early morning greetings on the street and at the hospital (my mornings are often alone at home-never seeing anyone!)
• The hospital routine has a rhythm of its own that is familiar and satisfying for me....patient rounds, staff devotions, prayer rounds, departmental work....some days in the ward, the classroom, the Spiritual Center, the operating room...paperwork! (Different from housework, travels...)
• The rhythms of nature in the desert-sunrise, sunset, dust storms, heat during the day, cool at night....lizards skittering up the wall, lizards skittering along the walkway....
• The road outside the hospital has a rhythm of donkeys, camels, taxis, trucks, pedestrians....laughter, shouting, begging, selling, silent movements of men, women and children slipping by....

 

King Solomon in Ecclesiastes talked about life rhythms....he observed that many of these are futile.Yet he wisely observed in 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:24, 25 

There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God's hand, because who can eat and who can enjoy live apart from Him?

Ecclesiastes 3:1ff

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven;
a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace....

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.... 

What a joy that the rhythms of life, in Africa or America may, at any moment be interrupted by a new rhythm...new songs!

Songs of salvation
Songs of the redeemed
Songs of joy
Songs of celebrating our Great God
Songs of forgiveness
Songs of healing

What is the rhythm of your life today? Does it make you dance or sing for joy before the LORD?
Who will you invite to join the dance?
Who will you invite to join the song?