Bright Spot: Savoring summer with encouragement to relax
Who wants to start the countdown to the end of summer in late July? Let me give some unwanted wake up calls signaling it’s so.
Just around the corner are band camp, two-a-day football practices, fall soccer. County fairs are here. Back to School and Christmas in July are, too. (Another crass commercialization, but we’ll blink and the real Christmas ads will start.) We've just passed the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Lest I depress you more, I’ll stop – unless you are one of those aberrations of all things normal who loves the cold. (I was going to say “freaks of nature," but I could lose some loyal readers.)
One of the counseling gems I’ve shared with discouraged people over my 44-year career in pastoral ministry was, “Don’t dwell on what you don’t have. Focus on what you have.” Think of all the warm and wild days that still stretch before us.
But before you try to squeeze every last drop out of summer, take time to savor its slowness. Spend some time just sitting on that porch or deck you wanted so badly but is gathering dust. How about that hammock? There’s those yard games molding in the garage – volleyball or whiffle ball, croquet, bocce and Jarts. (Oh wait, they’re illegal. But that never stopped us kids when no adult was around!)
Take a nap, or just get some rest. These are gifts from God: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest … and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus promised that and to give us the kind of rest we really need –soul rest. That’s the kind of good night’s sleep or vacation doesn’t often deliver. Soul rest only comes from Jesus.
My dear friend and colleague, Sherman Brantingham, used to stick his head in when I would be in the office later than I should have been and say, “Rick, go home and take a nap. The Lord will bless you for it.” But we often resist rest like the toddler who fights his nap. “In repentance and rest is your deliverance, in quietness and trust is your strength. But you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15)
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (Psalms 127:2) True rest is a gift from God.
Ever show up at a Christmas party where everyone brought a gift for the exchange, but you? You feel strange accepting one when the gift trades are made. But can you receive this gift from God without feeling guilty?
To paraphrase Cousin Eddie from "National Lampoons' Christmas Vacation," Clark, get yourself some rest from me [God says] ... and make it real nice ... Rest is the gift that keeps on givin’ all year long.”
Rick Sams is pastor emeritus of Alliance Friends Church.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Bright Spot: Savoring summer with encouragement to relax
