The Lazy Days of Summer, Where Did They Go?
I live in New England, and I love the change of seasons, but I think we all anticipate summer the most. The daylight lasts longer so we can stay outside later and I trade cooking in the oven for the grill. There are oh so many different flavors, smells and things to enjoy in each season but aahhhhhhhhh…summer. I love my flower gardens and all the various birds that visit. I have wonderful childhood memories of summer vacation and playing with friends until the streetlights came on. Summer always seemed endless and pretty carefree. What happened?
A fellow writer friend Rebecca Hastings, recently posted, “Summer is great, but it’s not all pool days and beach reads. Even the best things in life can be hard.That’s just part of the journey.” www.myinkdance.com. Being the mom or Grandma means you shop, pack the car and buckle in the kids to drive wherever the designated outing is and then the reverse with cleanup for the return trip. Being an adult isn’t always that fun or carefree, it can be a lot of work. Hmmm, we have a conundrum or” a problem that is difficult to deal with or a question that is a trick or play on words”.
How do we recapture that joy and the feeling of freedom? It is called REST. In our busy, constant input and output of sounds and visual media we do not truly take the time to relax and let our bodies, minds and souls get the restorative rest we need. We need to release our to-do lists, agendas and work assignments so our minds are free to enjoy the moment. I see people walk their dogs everyday on the street behind our house. They are watching their phones or have headphones on instead of paying some attention to their pet or child and enjoying the walk. They miss seeing the neighbors’ gardens and the hawks flying overhead so gracefully. Why do people go to the beach and sit watching their phone instead of closing their eyes, just feeling the sun and listening to the waves ebb and flow? These are just a few examples of how we miss what is most important in our every day that spills over even into our vacation time.
The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes provide obversations on wisdom verses foolishness. We can learn from nature if we slow down to look, observe and enjoy.
Proverbs 30:24–28 (ESV)
Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;
the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank;
the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.
Solomon tells us that there is a time for everything so why do we resist balance in our lives?
Ecclesiastes 3:12–13 (ESV)
I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.
Hosting family or friends can be a lot of work but we can keep our eye on the goal of building and enjoying relationships. We can take steps to prepare even for difficult relatives by guarding the conversations. This takes planning so you can actually enjoy your own party. Apparently this has been a problem for centuries!
Luke 10:38–42 (ESV) Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
According to Eastern rules of hospitality it was Martha’s job to provide refreshment for all the people gathered at her house. The text in different translations says she was distracted, anxious and troubled or as The Message states, but Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. I know that feeling! Have you ever felt stuck in the kitchen? Jesus was not saying her work was unnecessary but rather Martha was missing the company. Over the years I am have been more mindful of this.
Summer may not be lazy but we can certainly build in and protest our time for rest, relationships and relaxation. Let’s just enjoy that freedom by shutting off the media and giving our brains a rest. If you are a mom with little ones just enjoy these days because they really do fly by. Stop muti-tasking and enjoy one thing at a time and enjoy all the blessings each day brings.
As for me, I am finished writing you and I am going to pour a cup of coffee and sit outside to admire my flowers and wait for a humminbird to visit.
