By Beth Lema
Has this been a time of Stumbling for you? For me I’ve reflected on what a cold, rainy Arizona winter we have experienced. Some of the days seemed out of balance, bone chilling, and causing some of us to move with difficulty. Just has the trees lost all there leaves this past fall, we too may have felt that we were pruned by God into a hibernation of sorts.
One of my favorite quotes is from Christine Caine. She said “God prunes us when he is about to take us into a new season of growth and expansion”. That indeed is what this past winter was like. I found myself turning to the Psalms and reflected on how the people cried out with weeping, anger, vengeance and then returned to their roots through prayer and thanksgiving. They preserved through these actions and so should we. I reflected a lot on Psalm 23, It is my favorite psalm and one I read, recite in prayer and sing joyfully. It has fill d my heart with peace during this past winter of pruning. So, now I ponder on what the Summer will hold.
On a recent retreat our director said that a wise priest once told him to Walk Slower, Chew Slower, and get lost in his throughs. Yes indeed, that is what stumbling into Summer is about! Take the gift of time for yourself and let God refresh you. Stumbling into a summer of experiencing something different, new and exciting. Read, Draw, Write and Reflect, these are gift’s that God gives us to propel us into this summer. Weather you are at home for a stay- cation or a real get away trip. Let this Summer be a time God calls us to slow our pace down, experience the gifts that are visually in front of us from our changes in scenery, even in our back yards with the new growth of Spring and Summer upon us. Plant a vegetable garden, enjoy the seasonal flowers. Let the scents of Summer fill you. Experience the early morning sunrises and the birds chirping filling the air. Take a well-deserved break from the days end and enjoy the magnificent sunsets we have, maybe even with a glass of your favorite beverage. Savor the moment. Reflect on these natural gifts, grab a journal, find a place of peace for that morning coffee, reflect and write to begin your day. If you’re not a writer of sorts, then pick a favorite devotional, the Bible or summer reading material that you have been putting off reading and set the time aside for reading and reflection. If you are artist, draw what you see. Pick up a sketch book or acrylics and canvas and draw. But, most of all slow down and learn to just be in the moment. For the moments of life are fleeting. Let them meditate and fill your mind with beauty and serenity. Let this summer be one of stumbling into God grace.
Wishing you a Blessed Summer
