Summer Faith

by Jacki Popadich

School's out. It's sunny and gorgeous outside. You've got nothing (or next to nothing) you have to do. It's the perfect backdrop for a summer of slack. Your agenda this summer? Lazing around in front of a pool, diving in only when you can't stand the heat anymore. Hanging out in the movie theaters at night for the air conditioning and special effects of the movies. Perfecting your golf swing, catching that huge fish. Watching the fireworks explode. Deepening your faith.

Deepening your faith?!?

Summer can be such a great time to develop your faith. Just look around you at all the reminders of God's love in your everyday life.

Just Dive In

I learned to swim at an early age and have been in the water ever since. So swimming is one of my favorite summertime activities. It is also one of my favorite reminders of faith.

The connection to baptism is obvious. Just as baptism washes us clean from sin, going swimming can wash us clean from the heat and stickiness of summer. This summer, every time you dive in the water, remember your baptismal call to be priest, prophet and king.

Gone Fishin'

Along with swimming, a favorite summer activity for some people is fishing. This too can be a great way to grow your faith.

The next time you find yourself threading worms to catch bass, remember that Jesus told us that if we followed him we would be fishers of people (MT 4:19). Or remember while you are reeling in that huge trout that the symbol for Jesus is the ichthus -- a fish -- and we sometimes need to make the effort to bring that fish a little closer to us.

Break Out the Barbeque

August 10 is the feast of St Lawrence, a martyr who was placed on a barbeque spit and burned to death. As the story goes, he had a tremendous sense of humor, and as he was burning, said, "You can turn me over now, I'm done on this side."

So in honor of good old St Lawrence, dust off your barbeque, defrost your favorite barbeque-able item and have yourself a feast. As you are grilling, keep in mind that it is not always easy to stand up for your faith.

Summer Clothing

When it gets warm you get around to shedding all that heavy winter clothing. You wouldn't want to wander around all summer wrapped up in a pea coat, would you?

This makes summer a good time to go to reconciliation. You wouldn't want to walk around spiritually all wrapped up in old sins. By shedding the sins, you are able to soak up God the way you soak up the sun in your summer clothes and swimsuits.

The Perfect Beach Book

Sure, you could spend your summer actually reading Gulliver's Travels like your English teacher told you to. You could spend it turning the pages of Danielle Steele's latest trashy novel. Or you could crack open the Bible. It's got all the murder, betrayal, and giants that those books have, not to mention a lot of wisdom and humor too.

There are so many different ways to enrich your faith during the summer; you'd have to be without a pulse not to be able to find at least one or two. It's such a beautiful season, ripe with things to do. Don't let it drift away without expecting God to show up occasionally.

Life Applications:

How can you reel Jesus in to your life more actively?
How are you exercising your baptismal call to be priest, prophet and king?
When has it been easy to stand up for your faith? When has it been more difficult to do so?

Copyright 2002-2007 by Jacki Popadich
All rights reserved.