Retaining Up with the Information

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It’s laborious to imagine that we’re nearly half manner by the yr and that the summer time solstice is now behind us. I like this season of lengthy heat evenings and early morning wanders within the backyard and profit from the alternatives to drink in the great thing about God’s world and the surprise of all I see round me. Sadly, we’re one of many few locations within the U.S. that has had nice temperatures this week. A lot of you’re caught underneath the dome of intense warmth scorching the U.S. and Canada. For some it adopted devastating floods. My coronary heart goes out to all those that are caught within the excessive climate circumstances brought on by local weather change, not simply on this continent, however all around the world.

This week has been a little bit of a curler coaster for me. I began with an exquisite weekend getting my backyard so as and admiring the sluggish progress of our tomatoes, squash and onions. I transplanted basil and pulled morning glory (bindweed) like fury. Do you know it may develop 12 inches in a day and burrows as much as 20 ft beneath the bottom? No surprise it appears able to take over the world. I established new religious practices that may information me by the summer time and obtained caught up on correspondence I ignored whereas we have been in Britain. A lot to provide thanks for.

Nonetheless, yesterday I heard from my household that my oldest brother, who has been battling malignant melanoma for the previous couple of years was admitted to hospital yesterday and the prognosis isn’t good. I recognize your prayers. That is when it is extremely laborious to have one’s household half a world away. In addition to that, our 7 yr outdated canine Goldie has a cancerous progress that I’ve a session about right now. I count on surgical procedure to be scheduled within the subsequent couple of weeks. When life throws challenges like these at us, the consolation of religion makes a profound distinction.

I discover that the solstice celebrations are more and more essential to me, one of many anchors that helps to provide my life stability within the rising challenges of my private life in addition to of society as a complete. This week in Meditation Monday: Celebrating the Solstice Via Our Heritage. I take a look at a few of the traditions for celebrating the that come from my Greek heritage. Exploring these was each fascinating and inspiring. I heartily advocate that you just too contemplate exploring your heritage to see what uncared for traditions you may gain advantage from. The audio for this submit is out there by Substack for paid subscribers.

Final Wednesday we posted our tenth Liturgical Rebels Episode, a captivating interview with Naomi Lawrence. I heartily advocate this episode to you, and you probably have not but related to The Liturgical Rebels maybe you want to use the summer time to get caught up. Try all of the interviews together with Brian McLaren, Shane Claiborne and Scott Erickson right here.

A lot of you’ll have observed that Godspacelight had only a few posts this week. A lot of our authors are taking a nicely deserved break after utilizing their abilities and their insights to maintain us by the onerous challenges of COVID. Nonetheless you may like to take a look at a number of previous posts which can be significantly pertinent to this season of the yr. First, in case you missed St John the Baptist’s Day on June twenty fourth, right here is a superb submit Enhance and Lower, St John and the Summer time Solstice by Jan Blencowe. As she says “This alignment of holy remembering and pure phenomenon is not any accident.”

I like Lilly Lewin’s Freerange Friday Intentional Summer time from final yr. Her query “What’s going to it’s worthwhile to do to really really feel refreshed by September, reasonably than extra used up or burned out?” It’s significantly thought frightening and her recommendations are glorious. I additionally advocate her Making a Centerpiece for Summer time Prayer. She is at all times so artistic and useful in her recommendations.

For an additional sort of intentionality, learn Lisa De Rosa’s submit Having fun with Summer time with Creation Care in Thoughts. She challenges me to assume by the environmental affect of every merchandise I take advantage of over the summer time and the way I can select to reduce my ecological footprint. A difficult and essential submit particularly as local weather change makes many people very conscious of our environmental affect.

If you’re searching for a prayer to assist orient you thru the summer time, I recommend this Litany for Summer time by Fran Pratt.

You may additionally like to think about the significance of hospitality over the season, which for me his one of the vital essential elements of the season. My favorite submit which I like to reread and replicate on over the season is my Meditation Monday: Studying Hospitality from Psalm 23. https://godspacelight.com/meditation-monday-learning-hospitality-from-psalm-23-2/ It’s a good beginning place for all of us as we put together for BBQs and seashore picnics within the north and cosy gatherings across the fireplace within the south.

As you put together for a brand new season, it’s at all times good to plan and transfer with intentionality into the brand new joys and sorrows that it holds.

Many blessings on you and yours

Christine Sine

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