In the good old summer time . . .

It's summer time in southern Ontario, and for a few seemingly brief months the world changes, and "the living is easy."  Life is not like we know it during the rest of the year.  It's laid-back, relaxed and somehow freer.  There aren't too many of us who don't enjoy summer or at least pieces of it.  Yes, sometimes the heat and humidity are overpowering; and sometimes the neighbours' parties are a little louder than we'd like; but overall, summer is--as the kids would say--"a pretty sweet deal."

There is something powerful in the creation that surrounds us:  the serenity that comes with sitting beside a lake and listening to the eternal 'whoosh-whoosh' of the waves on the shore; the peace that comes while watching the fluffy clouds drift across the azure sky; the calm of the breeze in the trees; and all of it soothing the ravaged soul, battered heart and bruised mind.  Surely all of this, indeed all of creation, have been created and given to us as a gift--a gift given out of the deep, deep love of the Creator.

I have heard folks moaning about the lack of church attendance in the summer.  I have heard complaints about how few people there are in worship spaces all across this land on summer weekends.  But surely if we have been given this creation, is it not right that we spend what time we can  enjoying it?  Should we not be at the lake fishing or swimming or just communing with the sun?  Should we not be enjoying the outdoors while playing or watching baseball or soccer?  A trip to the cottage or campground means a chance to get just one step closer to our creation.

So, what DOES our God require of us?  To do justice; love kindness; and walk humbly with our God.   For some of us, that means faithful, weekly attendance at worship.  For others it means a trip to the cottage; a walk in the forest; a canoe trip up the river.  And above all else, it means caring about and caring for our brothers and sisters in any and every way we can.  It means whether we worship our Creator on Sunday morning in a worship space; or on the hiking trail in the local forest, we WILL do justice and love kindness, caring for God and neighbours just as we care for ourselves.

Oh, and BTW:  that's for all time, not just summer time!