SILENT SEASONS OF THE SOUL
Summer Brings Fullness
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
I was on my nature walk and looking around, I thought, Wow! Such FULLNESS! All the trees have blossomed. More flowers are in bloom. Babies are born: A cute kitten joins the family at breakfast. Hungry baby birds chirping from the corner roof of our home. Garden plants are flourishing! And with it all comes all the pesky critters as well that serve their purpose.
I think of summer time as a real fun sunshiny time in our lives. There are so many things to do and enjoy in the summer months. Weekends at the lake, backyard barbecues, pool parties but yet there are also those times when the Lord has nursed my broken heart more than once through the years with gifts of sunshine and ice cream. Because even though summer brings lots of sunshine, there may come extremely hot periods of spiritual challenges. There will be trails of beautiful and bittersweet moments. Some summers have overflowed with joy and some filled with deep sadness and pain. Each summer is unique and has it's own story to tell. But as we get deep into summer, there comes a time where it can get pretty hot and dry.
With summer being a cultivating and fruit bearing season, in our walk with God, we get into enjoying this mountain top experience and get so busy, we can neglect some things we should be doing for our spiritual life, and all of a sudden, our life becomes dry and barren and we may find ourselves in a 'desert experience'. This is where we long for the things of God once again. We develop a “thirsting” in our soul. And of course, Jesus Christ is that Living Water that we need to quench that thirst.
As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2)
It is so important that during this fruit bearing season, the fruits of the spirit must be cultivated and the way to do that is to always remember who the Gardener is and remain in Him. Embrace the abundant life that surrounds us. Seize the joy of the season, relax, have fun, celebrate, abide in gratitude for the blessings. Yes, Fall & Winter will soon come but do not let thoughts of the unknown rob you of the joy of the moment. There is so much of God during this time but then will soon come … the change.
Connie J Schmoll
