Aaahh! The lazy days of summer-at least for a lucky bunch of us. Warmer weather is here, the days are longer and the garden is thriving. We’ve all been looking forward to summer to slow down a little and relax.

Although I love the change of pace, I often find myself a bit restless in the summer. There’s always plenty to do, but I have a harder time staying focused because the time frame is so open. Don’t misunderstand, we’re all still busy, busy, busy, with all the activities that make summer so wonderful; camping, hiking, golf, vacations, etc, but the routine is never the same. For some reason this word, routine, has been rattling around in my head for several weeks now, so I thought that meant I should pay attention. Although I usually don’t sit still long enough to hear God talking, occasionally, He gets a little persistent and I finally “hear” him (or I could be crazy, but I like the first theory).

I admit I like routines and schedules, so summer is sometimes a bit of a challenge for me because it’s so loose. It’s easy to lose focus, or skip a couple of workouts, or miss a couple of Sundays, because “it’s summertime”. But I find that if I miss one, then it’s easy to miss 2. And if I miss 2, 3 is even easier, and it becomes harder and harder to “get back in the groove.” Remember in school, when you skipped a class (not me of course), how much harder it was to go the next week because you felt a bit uncomfortable? At some point, after a couple of misses, it’s easy to just not go at all.

My daughter asked me the other day, why I went to church every Sunday. I thought a minute and then told her, 1) because it’s important for me to be regularly reminded that I am called to be Christ’s hands in this world. Secondly, and maybe more importantly, it’s part of my routine. It’s a constant that helps to regulate my life, especially spiritually. So enjoy your summer, the change of pace, vacation, and the chance to recharge and renew, but don’t forget regular Sunday worship as part of your routine! We will miss you if you’re not there. See you at church!