Some people see life as linear from birth to death but this seems rather prescriptive and clinical.
Others see it as a jagged graph with ups and downs, those ruled in or out. How do you see it? Seeing life in circles and cycles gives more room for enlargement, inclusion and growth. The hard edges are more flexible when rounded. Reflect on the photo – circles can be overlapping, interconnected, different sizes and speak of cycles. The word ‘cycle’ has its roots in Latin and Greek: the Latin being ‘cyclus’ and the Greek ‘kuklos’ – both of which mean ‘circle’. This is not reincarnation by the back door but it hints at resurrection just as seeds are buried and come back in the new season. More of that to come.
- ‘Everything goes in cycles, to a degree’ – Herb Brooks
- ‘Circles grow circles that grow more circles. The flow is organic and fluid, spawning and deepening … The Circle grows much larger in the second half of life. And God’s exhilaration is present in the twists and turns, the ups and downs’ – Gill Morgan
- ‘The core of everyone is original blessing not original sin’ – Richard Rohr
- ‘I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death’ – Leonardo da Vinci
Da Vinci’s idea that ‘little minds’ tend to shrink ties in that of being small-minded! This is possibly where Simon Sinek was headed with his Golden Circle Model of the brain and the ways it can ‘think’. He refers to the ‘limbic brain’ as the inner part that deals with feelings and emotions which are more interested in ‘why-we-do-things’ rather than ‘what-things-we-do’. His idea is that the outer brain (neocortex) processes the ‘what-we-do’ element which is interested in results and outcomes. Simply put, the ‘why’ is more important to us than the ‘what’.
- ‘When we can communicate from the inside out, we’re talking directly to the part of the brain that controls behaviour, and then we allow people to rationalize it with the tangible things we say and do. This is where gut decisions come from’ – Simon Sinek
Sinek’s point is that people buy from organisations like technology giant Apple because it makes products meeting the ‘why’ of people’s needs before dealing with the ‘how’ and the ‘what’. For us as individuals, if we know our ‘why’, then we discover our purpose and motivation – our belief will affect our actions and words. Commercially, if you get the ‘why’ right, then the cycle goes round to sales and profits. Spiritually, if we get the ‘why’ right, then we can better understand the circles and the cycles of life. For the enlightened who realise that God is behind all things, there are ‘divine cycles’ that bring a response of praise. Take the food chain – sow a seed, watch it grow and bring the harvest in with a ‘thank you’. Or romance – the gift of one human being to another, relationship, love, then new life in a baby. Sunsets, sunrises. Winter to Spring. Tadpoles to frogs and so the cycle of life goes round. There is no sense to the cycle of life without Someone who began it and keeps it going round – seasons and tides; life, death and resurrection. If we choose to be ‘mindful’, we will recognise what’s going on around us, all the time.
In the popular musical ‘The Lion King’, Mufasa teaches Simba about the circle of life that ‘moves us all … on the path unwinding’:
‘Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
‘Til we find our place’
To find our place within God’s circle of life is to find ourselves. All too often, we can get caught in a negative cycle of sin which sucks us in with the destructive force of a black hole. That cycle is broken only through a greater power – that of love and forgiveness.
- ‘You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?’ – John 11:25-26 (The Message)
- ‘There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die’ – Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
- ‘I am the door. Anyone who comes in through me will be saved. He will go in and out as he wants to, and will have food to eat. The thief comes only to steal the sheep and to kill them and spoil them. I have come so that people may live and that they may enjoy life to the full’ – John 10:9-10
- ‘Who breaks the power of sin and darkness? Whose love is mighty and so much stronger? The King of glory, the King above all kings’ – Phil Wickham
Jesus alone can break us out of the horrendous vortex of sin and death so that we can taste life to the full in God’s circle of life, of blessing, of renewal and unending grace. Every time you feel a negative pull into that downward spiral, look up, take hold of the outstretched hand and start again for there is always a way out. This is God’s best for you – the way of joy, life, peace and a thankful heart, so don’t settle for less.
Phil Wickham – This Is Amazing Grace (Official Music Video) – YouTube