“He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.” – Psalm 104:19
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” – Genesis 8:22
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” -Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January.” — Hal Borland
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We are nearing the midpoint of summer!
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, August 7th is the official astronomical midpoint between the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice, and the Autumnal Equinox, when daytime and night time are equal length. This means that as of August 1st, we will officially have 53 more days of summer before September 22nd when Fall arrives.
Although it has certainly warmed up in the past week or so, we have really had a mild summer so far, by Central Texas standards. I do enough whining about the heat that I need to remind myself to stop and be grateful for the milder days that are also a part of summer. I have been able to get out and enjoy myself outdoors and stretch my legs as I have done some sightseeing in parks around the Austin area.
Even though there will be plenty of lovely Fall days to enjoy, I don’t want to waste too many of the remaining days of summer. I want to get up to Roundrock to watch some live baseball, I want to paddle about on Ladybird Lake, I have a LOT of furniture that I need to restore while the weather is dry and calm… Tempus fugits and I need to Carpe Deim!
Summer will soon pass, then Fall; and before I know it Winter will be here again, and I will wonder why I didn’t make better use of these long, warm, and bright days.
None of us know how many more seasons we will enjoy and how productive we may be with the passing of each successive one, so it is incumbent that we do what we may, while we may, as long as we may, lest we regret the lost opportunity. As Ephesians 5:15-17 warns us, “So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to.”
Do you have some unfinished Summer business? 53 days will fly by before you know it!
Is there something that you know that God would have you do in this season of your life? Don’t let this precious window of time slip away and with it the opportunity to do the work that God has put before you. Call that friend or family member and bridge the divide that has grown between you. Visit that neighbor that you haven’t seen out and about lately. Send that check to a flood relief agency. Volunteer at that community service provider. Take the time to be with loved ones for some summertime fun. Invite that friend to come to church with you. Tell that person how grateful you are that they are in your life.
Tempus Fugits; Carpe Diem!
Peace,
Pastor Layne