Reflections on Summer

My goodness, it's hard to believe that we're halfway through 2025. I can recall as a child being out of school on summer break and I would spend part of the day with my friends sitting there in front of the house, dangling our feet from the front porch, musing about how long the summer seemed to be. During those times of youth, it seemed like summer was lasting forever. However, now, as we are getting up there, it seems we are barely used to being in the New Year, when we are already halfway through it. Because of its slower pace, summer often provides us with time to reflect. May our Lord give us the grace to have the heart of a child during this summer season.

It had been said that often in a work of art you will see a reflection of the personality and the heart of an artist. So it is, as we see all of nature aburst in its symphony of color and majesty. This is a time to pause and simply reflect on the heart of God. One poet has written, "God's presence is never any closer than in a garden." Pray for the ability to be able to appreciate the wonders of our Lord's creation during this summer season, as we see the wonders of His hand before us on dress parade. During this season, ask that the Lord give you grace to slow down with the season, so you can pause and listen to the still, small voice of His spirit as it speaks to you within your heart.

May you have the grace to reflect on the treasures God had given us: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." -Matthew 13:44