Dearly Beloved,
Grace and peace to you, Van Meter UMC Family!
Finally, June and the start of summer have arrived! This month as we lean into summer has always seemed like a transition time, an in-between season. It's a season between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next; a season of "what's next" for recent high school and college graduates; a season of growth between planting and harvest; and a time when we try to pack way too many things into our schedules. While caring for my two young grand-children for the last two months, I can relate to many parents with kids and the even busier summer schedules they juggle. There are a lot of things I wanted to do these last two months but just didn't have the time or energy to do.
Beginning in June, summer has a sneaky way of filling up our schedules before we can say "vacation". Between kids' sports schedules and tournaments, work trips, vacation, caring for family members, and trying to make the most of these warm, sunny days, life begins to feel like a chaotic sprint from one thing to the next. It's easy to feel disconnected from God. Our spiritual rhythms get buried underneath baseball schedules and swimsuits. But what I've learned again during this busy season is: God doesn't disappear when our calendars are ready to explode. God's invitation remains constant, gentle, and available: "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest". (Matt 11:28)
We are also in the liturgical season after Pentecost, a season marked by the color green, a reminder this is a season of growth and abundance. If you are wondering how you can stay close to God, and even grow in your faith when life feels like you can’t squeeze in one more thing, there is good news. You don't need to be perfect. You don't need to find long stretches of quiet time or uninterrupted silence. With a little intentionality, some creative thinking, and a generous helping of grace, you can carve out five minutes here and there to keep your faith strong even when your schedule is anything but calm.
Start small; your morning doesn't need to be perfect. You don't need an hour-long quiet time. Often the most powerful spiritual moments happen in simple spaces and while doing something else.
Try these micro-habits:
* Keep a devotional book on your bedside table for a quick morning read before your feet hit the floor
* Pray over the day's schedule as you get dressed
* Listen to a worship song or short devotion while getting ready
* Read one verse or one Psalm while your coffee brews
Jesus modeled this rhythm: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35) It doesn't say how long he prayed, just that Jesus made starting his day with God a priority. Your morning spiritual habit doesn't have to look like anyone else's. It just needs to work for you.
In July and August, I'll share a few more ways to spiritual micro-habits that might help you stay close to God even when your schedule is maxed out. God only asks that you bring your authentic self –- tired, stressed out, grateful, and everything in between.
This summer, as life pulls you in a dozen different directions, remember that staying close to God isn't about adding more to your already full schedule. It is about recognizing God's presence in everything you are doing and inviting God to be part of the conversation of your life.
In Christ's gracious love,
Pastor Cathy