Pastor's Message

SPIRIT STEPS – THE COMING OF SUMMER/June 2008

Be still and know that I am God…
Psalm 46: 10 (RSV)
Step out of traffic!  Take a long,
 loving look at me, your High God…
Psalm 46: 10 (The Message)

Summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21.  Memorial Day, however, unofficially marks the beginning of the vacation season.  The week long family vacations generally begin as soon as school is out but the weekend outings begin, for many, on the Memorial Day weekend.  There are many exciting things to do without traveling too far from home.  The Wisconsin Dells and Six Flags are but two of the exciting places that advertise for our time and money.  Then there are the water activities ranging from boating and water skiing to jet skis and tubing.  If your preference is less active excitement there are countless festivals, restaurants, casinos, theaters and concerts.  This is not to mention the cook outs family picnics and sporting events that we find ourselves enjoying.  All in all, summer can be an exciting, busy, tiring time.

All of these things are good and enjoyable, but they can also be emotionally and spiritually draining.  It is important therefore to set aside some “quiet time”, time to meditate and contemplate; time to ‘step out of traffic and take a long loving look at your High God’.  Summer is a good time to meditate outdoors.  Taking time to nurture yourself in nature can be an exciting and extremely rewarding thing to do.  Like the other activities of summer though, it needs to be planned.  It needs to be scheduled or it will be lost in the flurry of summer activities.  Plan now for some quiet time for yourself in nature; this can be done in your own yard or even some grassy area near your home.  Plan for some time each week or each day to sit quietly and ponder a tree, or a shrub, or a flower.  Take time to marvel at the wonder of creation, take time to ‘be still and listen to the quiet voice of God.’ 

As Christians we believe that God is everywhere but how often do we take the time or opportunity to just appreciate and bathe ourselves in that presence?  How much different might our lives be if we took more time to just stop, look, and listen to The Presence of God around us.  We sing:      
“This is my Father’s world,   And to my list’ning ear
                       All nature sings and round me rings,  The music of the spheres.”   

And all too often after we finish the song we also finish the thought.  When we hear the wind rustling the grass is our first thought ‘Oh, that’s just the wind in the grass,’ or is it, ‘God is passing through’?   “He speaks to me everywhere.”

Take time this summer to appreciate God’s creation.
Take time to connect with the Spirit.
Take time to be re-created.

May you have peace in your day,

Pastor Bob