Back in the day, Michael Jordan took some time off from basketball to take a swing at professional baseball. When he sufficiently scratched the itch, he returned to the game with a two-word press release, “I’m Back.” MJ wore three numbers during his GOAT career – 23, 45, & 12 (look it up if you want to know the story). Having had a little time off from writing, I’m Back with 12 Thoughts from the Summer Months. Why 12? Because I don’t have 45 thoughts from the summer months, and no one wants to read 23.
1.There is serenity in pulling weeds. I find it one of the more peculiar realities of getting older. I hated, I mean HATED, pulling weeds as a child. Granted, pulling weeds often was punishment for meanness to my sister, but that’s for another time. Now, a nearly old man, not only do I not mind pulling weeds from the front yard grass, I also find it relaxing. I do some of my best thinking when uprooting unwanted plants.
2. Time goes by fast. My grandmother told me, “The older you get, the faster time goes by.” Where did the summer go? Where did the years go?
My times are in Your hand:
Jesus, the Crucified;
those hands my cruel sins had pierced
are now my guard and guide.
3. The local church is a necessity. Over the summer months, I’ve watched those bereaved, diseased, discouraged, burdened, confused, ashamed, and overwhelmed receive the care of the church as intended by our Lord. We need the church. I need the church.
4. Sin delivers deep pain. Whether our own sin, the sin of those we love, or the sin of complete strangers, sin brings chaos, delusion, conflict, loss, pain, and death. I pray with the psalmist, “Lord, rescue me from their destructions” (35:17).
5. Writer’s block is a real thing. Whether writing a thank you note, a college essay, a novel, or a weekly help for Christians, sometimes the words just won’t come. The cure? Just keep writing. Eventually you will land on the best words and ideas.
6. There are few things more glorious than a newborn baby. The Lord brought more of them to our church over the summer months. So much awaits that bundle of joy. From this little life the Lord will bless untold numbers for generations to come. As these little lives age, the Lord will show himself faithful as he has to me and to you.
7. Little to no contact with children is a sad life. I pondered this recently when I thought about the lives of a couple I’ve known for many decades. Now, both about 70 years old, they live without interaction with children. By choice, they had no children, which means no grandchildren. They are not believing people, so they do not interact with children on a regular basis in the life of the church. They live in a secluded part of the world, isolated from any neighborhood kids. Whether your own children or grandchildren or those in the church, the sounds and sights of twirling girls and wrestling boys makes me smile. This is one of the blessings of a church with multiple generations.
8. Elderly Christians and church members are a gift to the local church. “We have to get younger” was a phrase I overheard recently at a local cafe, made by a blue-haired lady to a patient old man. She was speaking of her church. We don’t have many old people in our church, but I am so very thankful for the ones we do have. They provide maturity, stability, history, and perspective. Our church is better because of them and loses a little when health separates them from us.
9. Psalm reading and memorization is good for the soul. Our church spent the summer reading the psalms and memorizing Psalm 1. Psalm saturation gives voice to my sorrows, wisdom in my choices, expressions of my gratitude, and a deepening of my intimacy with the Lord.
10. Working out regularly really does make you feel better. Though it may not feel like it over the last few days, Minnesota summers melt away like ice cream under the sun. Like many, I do everything I can to be outside during the summer months. That means I am not in the gym getting in regular workouts. Bodily exercise profits little, but it does profit. The Lord has given us some measure of how we feel by taking care of our bodies. So, back to the gym beginning next week.
11. Love is so much better than conflict. I’ve made a comment like this to Brenda a few times over the summer months. Paul writes, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19). It seems so obvious, but too often we’d rather fight than love. I’d like less of the former and more of the latter, and I have much control about which is more prevalent in my life.
12. I live a blessed life, one beyond my ability to express to the Lord or to people. Looking back over the summer months, I declare I have a great wife, “practically perfect in every way,” amazing children and beautiful grandchildren, a church who loves me, friends who want to be with me, good health, a capable mind, all my needs met, and a future that will include God’s amazing grace and wise leading. What more could I want or need?
As always, thanks for reading, and I welcome your feedback and any suggestions you might have for an upcoming Lunchtime Musing.