No Summer Slump!

 "Roll out those hazy, crazy, lazy days of summer; those days of popcorn, & pretzels, and beer."

I don't know where those lyrics came from, but I don't think they were written by the early Christians in Palestine!  It occurred to me recently, that as our society changed from agriculture to manufacturing, our yearly calendar also changed. In an agrarian society, there are no "summer holidays" because there is spring planting, summer crop tending, autumn harvesting, and winter subsistence. In most areas, there are also autumn plantings and winter crops, so that the cycles of the seasons are endless. Plants don't take the summer -- or the weekend! -- off, and neither does livestock!  

In a manufacturing economy, or a technological one, it is possible to take a vacation now and again, and weekends as well, because machines will not starve or die without care.  However, it is the educational system that has really revamped our understanding of the seasons. It seems that, when school gets out, everything goes on hold, and even those of us who don't have children  in school somehow feel like we ought to be able to "take the summer off." So people make up for it by using weekends for play, in a sort of "mini-vacation" mode. 

In our climate, where folks want to escape the summer heat, this attitude spills over into religious life particularly. When it's "too hot to go out" on Sunday mornings, worship attendance suffers and small groups go on hiatus until fall. But what does God think of this practice? If we really believe that God has our best interests at heart, and longs to help us find fulfillment in life, then we can consult His Guidebook, the Bible, for that answer.

First, the Bible reveals that God never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:3) and that He is always working for His children's good. (Romans 8:28) God never takes the summer off! (Aren't you glad?) Proverbs contains many gems about the value of industry; "Do not love sleep or you will grow poor," (Proverbs 19:13) and in the parable of the talents, Jesus refers to the one servant who did not use his talents as a "wicked, lazy servant." (Matthew 25:26)

Second, Scripture tells us that rest in important, "on the seventh day, God rested from His labors" (Genesis 2:2), and God commands us to also take rest periods, "so that you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy." (Exodus 31:12-17) The purpose of the Sabbath day was intended for us to rest and worship God, to gain perspectives on the facts of His ownership of us and His will for our lives. It was not intended to help us escape from Him!

Our culture has imposed upon us the expectation of doing "something different" during the summer months. We can use these hot days to sleep more, travel more, visit family more, eat more, read more, or watch more television. We can "hole up" in reverse hibernation!  But there is something else we can do in the summer, something that can be a part of our leisure activities in a way that we may be too stressed out or busy to experience from September to June. We can take up the practice of seeking God in every activity, from swimming to traveling to family visits. We can decide to look for spiritual lessons in our daily lives, and praise the Lord for our discoveries. We can remain faithful, and allow the summer to become a time of spiritual restoration that will sustain us the rest of the year. 

As you slide into your hot car, can you be awed by a Creator who spoke the sun into being? When you gather with your family to remember the good old days, can you praise the Lord for the common memories you share? When you travel, can you look for new expressions of salvation in different churches across the country?  When you part with your hard-earned money to provide for the enjoyment of your summer vacation, can you rejoice that you have remained faithful to your financial commitments at home, in your own church?

We are so blessed by the God-given miracle of a thing called ZOOM! Most people can find an internet connection that will allow them to connect, even from across the country! Can you take an hour on Sunday to worship with your church family, lending your strength to their prayers and your encouragement to their lives? Here is the link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89004834331?pwd=WDkzWG8vS3V3QmE2K0ZSVHRLenk4dz09     Meeting ID: 890 0483 4331  Passcode: 777777

It is my prayer and my desire that our congregation will not be one that takes faithfulness to God lightly during the summer months, but that we will seek out new ways to grow spiritually each and every day. I personally promise you that I will spend just as much time on Sunday School, worship planning, and sermon preparation during June, July, and August as I do the rest of the year, and I know I speak for Rev Mark as well. While there will be weeks in which we meet only on Zoom, and not in our worship space, we will be able to be together each Sunday. God is faithful to us in every season of life, and there are many ways to express our commitment to Him during these "lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer."           -- Blessings,  Pastor Randa