Sum…. Sum…. Summertime

For those of us who love hot, sunny weather, summertime is where it’s at. Once May 1st arrives, we’re giddy with anticipation, and if perchance May presents us with an 80 degree day, it’s cause for audible hallelujahs.

Perfect beach day

Today was that day! The windows flew open despite the absence of screens, the hot-weather clothes emerged from the back of the closet, and my bike rolled up from its basement storage. Along with my still-packed beach bag from last summer, today’s beach outing was delightfully July-like. And to celebrate, Jack got started on his annual shedding program.

There’s something cathartic about settling into a beach chair and notching it to tip-back position. The sigh of “ahhhhh” explains the feeling…. or maybe that’s just for us summertime people. For us, any excuse is good enough to head for a sunny beach, and I’d pitch a permanent tent on the sand if I could. But there is a down side.

Ahhhhh

My skin testifies to how many thousands of hours I’ve spent beneath powerful sun rays at the shore, and the fact that I have my own skin doctor is proof of damage done, amidst the many hallelujahs and ahhhhhs.

Most of us (not just us summer-timers) are experts at justifying the things we love to do, even if it might have harmful consequences for ourselves or, worse yet, for someone else. (I’m not referring to anything illegal here.) We can list all kinds of reasons why it’s ok, even profitable, to spend time doing what might be beneficial in small doses, in big ones. Sometimes we rationalize it to the point of believing we’d be foolish not to do it, and once that happens, it’s difficult to set a limit.

That is, unless God sets it for us.

He might challenge us to take another look at how we’re spending our time through the words of someone we respect and admire, or he could confront us through the mouth of a child we love. It’s possible he’ll stop us by orchestrating consequences that require medical attention, even allowing us to experience an accident. Maybe he’ll simply demonstrate how the losses outweigh the benefits of whatever we’re doing too much of.

Whatever technique God uses, it will or won’t work depending on how we respond.

Some of us plow ahead with doing what we like to do, thinking we’re demonstrating the positive qualities of strength and determination. In reality, being unable to limit ourselves is probably a sign of weakness. But God’s intentions are to strengthen us to do what’s right.

SPF 15

And so, rather than sit under a cloudless sky in a tipped-back beach chair for too many skin-damaging hours, I decided to take action.

I upped the SPF number on my sun screen.

”You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe…. then you know that you’re out of line.” (Romans 14:22-23, The Message)

A Wish for Water

Most people find it peaceful to look out over a large body of water. Even a small lake or a narrow river does something special for us. Because of this, waterfront property is pricey, and limited “front row” lots keep it out of reach for most of us.

Lake Michigan

I live a short walk from the gorgeous vista of massive Lake Michigan but can’t see the water from my house. Homeowners fortunate enough to overlook the lake pay a steep financial premium for it.

There’s another way we all appreciate water, and it has to do with our thirst.

Thirsty soldierI remember a few years back reading the story of a soldier shot down in enemy territory who buried himself to escape capture. A week later, as he was scooped up in a dare-devil helicopter rescue, all he could say was, “Water! I need water!” The soldiers who’d rescued him laughed at his gulping and spilling, marveling at the amount he drank before finally calming down.

Water is precious to us. It’s also priceless, especially if seen through the lens of Scripture.

Water is used as a symbol for several things in the Bible, the most important of which is salvation. Jesus describes himself as the living water, life-giving for those who believe in him. But water in Scripture is also symbolic for other things: cleansing, purification, healing, nourishment, and baptism.

It’s interesting that in all these water-references, God is the one in charge, whether it’s setting water’s boundaries, withholding or sending rain, using water in judgment, or quenching spiritual thirst. He was in charge at the time of creation (as the Spirit moved over the face of the waters) and will be the architect of heavenly waters (creating a river flowing from the throne of God).

Water

We all need water, both the literal kind and the symbolic kind, which translates to needing him. But of course sometimes we end up sampling other “drinks” before we finally realize there’s only one that will thoroughly (and permanently) satisfy our thirst.

Water will always fascinate us: a bubbling aquarium, a fountain, a summer rainstorm, a swimming pool, a cold drink. Scripture describes a heavenly sea like crystal that God intends to make for us one day. I’ve tried to envision such a wonder and am hoping I’ll get to spend time looking at it in the hereafter. But the one important water-fact that had to occur before I would be allowed to see it, was my drinking from the fountain of life, receiving the living water of Christ.

Since I’ve done that, I eagerly look forward to seeing (and maybe swimming in?) the crystal sea. And knowing how grand paradise will be, there will probably even be accommodations for each person who wants a dwelling with a waterfront view.

….no financial premium required.

“To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6)

Cold Rejection

Here in southwest Michigan we’re longing for warmer weather, but tonight we’ll dip back to 22 degrees. Our longing is premature, though, considering the general rule is to expect random frosts till mid-May. Actually I’ve never risked planting flowers until after Mother’s Day for just that reason.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

One spring years ago I invested in 4 flats of pink impatiens, 36 plants to a flat, intending to put them along the north side of our Illinois home. Though I’d bought them the day before Mother’s Day, I knew enough not to plant until after the weekend.

That night’s forecast was for a hard frost, so after supper I moved my young plants to a safer, warmer spot in the yard. But the next morning when I checked on them, I found they were icy-crisp and twisted with the cold. What had gone wrong?

It turned out I’d put them in the worst possible place to stay out of harm’s way. We had a gentle ditch running along the front of our yard that Nate used to call a “swale.” I thought this mini-valley would offer protection for my impatiens, but warm air rises and cold air falls, so plants in a valley are at high risk.

My intentions were good, but knowledge was minimal, and results were poor.

How many times does this happen in other life-categories? With good intentions we might try to compliment someone but end up foot-in-mouth, or we give a gift that turns out to be totally inappropriate.

Chatting

And what about spiritually? Maybe we charge ahead with the intention of challenging someone about sin, but our inappropriate judging drives them from the Lord. Or we refuse to take a criticism, pridefully thinking we’re above it. Or maybe we share something that should have been kept confidential, disguising it as a prayer request.

Do we get credit with God for having had good intentions, even though the results were bad? How does God want us to prevent these unintentional disasters?

He tells us, “Get educated.” In the wisdom of Proverbs he says:

  • Pay attention, and gain understanding.
  • The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint.
  • Do not forget my words or turn away from them.
  • The unfolding of God’s words brings light.
  • By paying attention to the wise, the simple get knowledge.
  • Whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
  • The one who gets wisdom loves life.
  • The one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
  • All who follow the Lord’s precepts have good understanding.
  • From the Lord’s mouth come wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

Following this counsel will prevent us from making all kinds of unintended errors. As for my swale-mistake with the impatiens, I learned what not to do. And if we make unintentional blunders in the spiritual realm, we can gain wisdom from those, too…. for next time.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)