Do You Have Plans for the Summer?

by Carrie Hayner

My husband and I are long-time empty nesters, which gives us the freedom to go on vacations outside of the crowded summer months. Another plus is I don’t do well in heat. Shall we say that I tend to glisten more than the average human?

In April, we took a dream vacation to Spain. My mother’s parents were born and raised there so it was a meaningful, as well as fun, blessing. Now with summer approaching, I don’t have an exciting answer to the ubiquitous question, “Do you have any plans for the summer?”

Do you?

When we were preparing for Spain, I knew it would be important to be mindful of God’s presence as we vacationed. I asked the Holy Spirit to make me aware of his nudging and I was moved to thank God for each site and experience along the way. I did have my frustrating moments when my anxieties (often over the monumentally important issue of not packing something I wish I had to wear) had me slapping my forehead.

I find it annoying that whenever I go on vacation, all parts of me come along. My goodness, how many people get to have the adventure God had given my husband and me? The look on my husband’s face when I got anxious over trivial matters was a comical barometer. “Really, Carrie?”

Now, onto the summer months. What plans do you and I have for this summer? Do we plan to seek and experience God’s presence? How? Many of us make lists for our summers: packing lists, project lists, staycation lists, picnic invitation lists…

I’ve decided to write an “Inviting Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit into my Summer List”. (Let me know if you come up with a catchier title).

1. Tell God I love him before my feet hit the floor in the morning. (Good #1 year-round!)

2. Ask for eyes to see the gifts of my summer. (Summer green, lightning storms, BBQ’s, fireworks, watermelon, children playing outside, and yes, the heat of summer.)

3. Ask God who he’d like me to love and serve that day - someone who might be having a tough time enjoying their summer.

4. Get outside. Experience God in his creation. A hugely effective way to encounter his presence.

5. Choose a challenge for the summer. Perhaps be quicker to stop grumbling, be quicker to ask the Spirit to hold my thoughts captive to Christ, choose a specific activity to care for my body, and/or read three life-affirming books.

Now, if only I could come up with a catchier title for my summer list. Summertime and His Presence is Breezy? Summer with My First Love? A Holiday with the Holy Spirit?

Well, thankfully, the list and a silly title are not the goals. I’ll be praying for you this summer, that with or without a list, you are joyfully mindful of God’s presence. That, my sisters, is an exciting plan to have for your summer!