The Good Old Summertime

I will keep this column on summer quotes brief because I am writing these words on the eve of my summer vacation, and I have not finished packing. I have often started writing and had the goal of writing a less verbose article as a treat for my readers. As you know, it seldom happens. I start thinking and typing and next thing I know, many words have flown by. Summer and life in general are the same way – fleeting.

Years ago, there was a movie musical titled “In the Good Old Summertime.” You may know the tune to the title song. There is something about summertime that most of us look forward to for about eight months of the year. Decades ago, the Beach Boys made a nice career from focusing songs on sunshine, surfing and summer. Of course, sunburn, humidity and mosquitoes represent the dark side of the bright season of the year. There is nothing fun, fun, fun about these things.

Everyone has their own idea of the ideal summer vacation, weather (74 degrees for me), and activities. James Dent said, “A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and the lawn mower is broken”. I am all for blue skies, a breeze to keep the humidity down and hearing lots of different birds chirping and singing their unique songs. And I do not want the mower to be broken because I would not know how to fix it. I enjoy mowing my half acre…unless it is too hot and humid.

This will be the first summer vacation for us that does not involve the beach in at least 4 years. We will head to the Smoky Mountains as I did several times in my childhood. Lots of people love the beach instead of the mountains. I know folks who go to the same beach yearly. Emilia Wickstead said, “To escape and sit quietly on the beach – that’s my idea of paradise”. A lot of people would agree with her. I will wait for the paradise that is in store for those who know God. No traffic or sunscreen will be involved.

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. I think John Lebbock is onto something with that statement. Regina Brett said something similar. Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds. Summertime can offer opportunities to be in awe of God’s handiwork. Tonight, I witnessed incredible cloud formations and the evening sun peeking through after a thunderstorm. With only about two months of summer left, try to pause and enjoy nature and be unplugged and quiet before the Lord. Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

Helen Keller was blind but understood the power of the sun. She said, “Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows”. The sun is an incredibly powerful creation of God that serves several vital purposes. And God’s son sustains the sun. He has been doing so for thousands of years. Yet Revelation 21:23 is fascinating to consider. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. I do not totally understand that verse but believe it. Audrey Hepburn said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”. By faith, we believe that heaven is our destination. Meanwhile, we fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

Langston Hughes wrote, “Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you”. Farmers know that a summer rain is not just refreshing, but vital. Humor is a gift from God. We live in very serious times. People are offended easily and anger springs up readily with a lot of folks. Even if you do not naturally have a good sense of humor, you can still be one to joke around and look for opportunities to laugh and enjoy the blessings of life. You seriously do not always have to be serious. Be cool and refreshed by being of good cheer. A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22).

We can be grateful for and cheerful about the summertime. Take advantage of the extra daylight and warmth. Enjoy colorful flowers, sunsets and birds. God’s design is amazing. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter (Psalm 74:14).