A Special Summer

What are you planning that will make this summer special?

Our Experience

Do you let summer happen or do you make summer happen.

Most of us plan vacations, and if you have kids, you entered the summer camp sweepstakes months ago.

Libby and I had a great time last weekend joining one of our sons and his wife as they dropped off their four kids for two weeks of camp. Nearly 1,000 kids and their parents meeting up for the incredible process of checking in and getting their kids squared away in their cabins. I met in-laws of in-laws.

In an attempt to broaden the theme of Purpose Filled Love to other areas of my life I asked myself a simple question.

How could I make this summer special?

My pattern is to be tired of summer by late July or early August. If you have a summer home, this will probably not be true of you. But still, a little more intention could add special experiences to your summer.

Understanding my temperament, I asked myself the following questions:

What new habit would help me enjoy the outdoors?

Taking a camping chair on my bike down to the lake in my neighborhood first thing in the morning has been great. So far, I’ve counted 15 types of sounds I hear at the lake. It’s also a great place to listen to the daily devotional app, Lectio 365, which almost always focuses my heart.

Who are some fun people we would like to spend time with?

Last night Libby and I had a young couple over for dinner. They have been married less than two years and are preparing to move into their first major jobs, the husband to be a professor of Astrophysics at Michigan and the wife to be a hospital chaplain in palliative care. It was great fun to be with them. But it would not have happened without my question. (The husband was super excited about the space pictures taken last week by the largest camera in the world .)

Is there something I could read or consider that would be spiritually renewing?

I have a desire to experience more of the life and work of the Holy Spirit, so I’ve adopted this daily prayer from Lectio 365.

Holy Spirit, reshape the patterns of my life. I offer you again today my story: all that is old, all that is new, all that is broken and all that is whole. Give me a glad and generous heart to receive your word.

What could make your summer special beyond the normal vacation?

(Caution: If you are deep in a personal crisis and are stuck in a state of misery, just ask one question.

Who could help me move forward with some hope?)