Having pretty much exhausted the themes I could dredge up in our very short Gospel reading this week, I would like to change the subject. (Yes, there are other readings appointed for Sunday; for a variety of reasons, I don’t wish to explore them here.) Today, I invite us to consider how the gifts of summertime can help us refresh our connection to God.
The long days and warm weather which most Water Daily readers are enjoying in the western hemisphere offer occasions for spiritual connection, on our own and in groups. I don’t know about you, but my spirit is fed and expanded by being outdoors, feeling a breeze, watching the sunlight play on leaves, admiring the strength and beauty of trees and flowers, observing the antics of animals large and small. The form of praise called exaltation rises in me more readily, and gratitude becomes a more dominant theme in my prayer.
Summer often offers more time for spiritual activities as well. Whether we sit outside or enjoy a long walk after dinner (or before breakfast…), we can talk to God, and listen, because we’re not rushing as much. Long dinners with friends or lounging on a beach or boat allow time and space for conversations to get spiritual. Here are a few spiritual practices we might try on this season:
Mindfulness walks – take a walk in the woods or in a meadow or anywhere that you find beautiful. Pause before you start to breathe deeply and to attend to each of your senses, ending with the eyes. What do you hear? What do you feel on your skin? What do you smell and even taste? Finally, what do you see? Take your time to tune each of these senses, and as you walk try to notice and appreciate without engaging your thoughts – and when you find your mind is busy, come back to the "now" by noticing with your senses again.
Gratitude journal – if this is not already your practice, you might try it for a season. Choose a time each day to sit, preferably outside, and note what you are thankful for. Write it down if you can. Do any of those things prompt you to want to go deeper in prayer? Sometimes noting what we’re grateful for reveals to us something we yearn for – talk to God about that. And give thanks!
Love feasts – I love summer eating, and since I’ve finally expanded my appreciation of vegetables and fruits, I find making food and eating it, alone or with others, an increasingly delightful adventure. Food makes real the overwhelming abundance and variety of God’s creation, and variety and abundance seem particularly vivid in the summer. I suggest inviting the Holy Spirit to fill you as you plan a menu, acquire the ingredients (especially if it can involve a farmer’s market), grill if you like that. I love to sauté on my grill’s extra burner, even chopping the vegetables outside; my deck becomes a kitchen and dining room all in one. Praise the Creator with each phase of preparation; invite Jesus to join you as you eat – he was no stranger to dinner tables or kitchens. Savor the taste and distinctiveness of each food and the gifts of each guest – and know that God is in the midst of it.
There are many more spiritual practices particularly wonderful to embrace during the summer, but those three are enough for today. As we move into the vacation season, I pray you will have many opportunities to draw near to God and experience the presence of the Spirit in this season of growth.
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