A weekly reflection from a member of the Hastings clergy Written by Pastor Paris Pasch of The Journal Church in Hastings Don’t Take a Vacation From God Summer has jumped into our Minnesota lives …
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A weekly reflection from a member of the Hastings clergy Written by Pastor Paris Pasch of The Journal Church in Hastings
Don’t Take a Vacation From God
Summer has jumped into our Minnesota lives and many of us are going to try and squeeze as much out of it as we can. We will go to the cabin or camper, plan a road trip vacation with the family and just about end up sleeping in the back yard swimming pool. We will escape, recreate, and prostrate in sunny settings. We will have every cool beverage known to mankind and gain and loose several pounds on our summer vacation. This is the simple and oh so brief Minnesota summer.
With all this being good and true, let me be a pastor for just a moment. As you’re jamming every waking moment with something fun and frivolous, keep in mind that your family still needs spiritual nourishment over the summer. We don’t stop nourishing our bodies for three months and nor should we stop nurturing our souls.
Nurturing might be sitting around the fire and discussing one of the many historical Bible stories. Maybe it’s asking family members to take a moment to pray for others who are struggling through their summer due to illness or hardship. Maybe one of the summer activities includes helping a neighbor with a yard project that simply has overwhelmed them. All these things will help teach your family that other people are very important to God. I guess what we learn from knowing God, is that getting wisdom is essential, and we should never take a vacation from pursuing it, not even during a Minnesota summer.
Proverbs 4:4–6 (NIV) Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
So have a blast this summer, but don’t forget to hydrate with “Living Water” and enjoy a spiritual meal with your family. Visit your church during these relaxed times. The church still needs you, as much as you need the church.
