“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy”* is truer to me this year than ever before. It was an unusually cold, snowy, icy and windy autumn and winter, so I looked forward to the summer since winter’s official start in December.
Most comforting about the summer is that one can relax and find solace in Jesus’ sayings about peace and rest. The first of my favorites is found in John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” Second is the story of sisters Martha and Mary. Martha is always busy, never resting, and criticizes Mary for sitting with Jesus and listening to his words. However, Jesus celebrates Mary for staying with him.
I’m not able to take an extended vacation to another country, state, or city, but the summer allows me to just slow down and do things at my own pace, right here at home in New York City. For example, I can spend more time at the Wednesday 12:15 healing service, since I don’t have to rush back to the Bronx in order to pick up my granddaughter from school. And even though I still have commitments to church, family and friends, I can space them freely, so they don’t seem so time consuming and tiring.
Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” (Matthew 11:28)
Linda
*First sung in Porgy and Bess, 1935, music by George Gershwin, lyrics by DuBose Heyward.