Have You Found Respectability?

21 Jul

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”  ~ Sam Keen

Yes.  We are in those lazy, hazy days of summer.  The heat is on, summer school is nearly over for many or already completed for others, and school is looming in the near future; but, there are still some days to do a whole lot of nothing.  That, in many ways, is what summer is all about. Doing a whole lot of nothing.

Yet, in the midst of that nothing, there is still much to do. We  go outdoors and pick a weed or two, we mow the lawn, and we water the flowers. We might get together with friends and go to the pool. There are a myriad of activities in which we can engage in the midst of our “laziness”.

One of the things that should not be ignored in the lazy, hazy days of summer is the practice of our faith. As a matter of fact, summer often gives families more opportunity to pray together as they take time for summer activities and summer vacations. Prayer and worship is essential to the life of a Christian. Without prayer and worship, our souls will wither and die.

Our prayer and worship not only nourishes our souls but also gives us the wherewithal to engage in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. How wonderful it is to see entire families volunteering time to visit the sick or the shut in or working in a local soup kitchen. How important it is to teach our children that there are others who are far less fortunate than they and how they can serve the needs of the less fortunate by helping in various ministries.

Engaging in various ministries gives individuals and families a sense of purpose and identity.  Engaging in those ministries gives people an opportunity to appreciate all that they possess.  Engaging in those ministries helps those involved to appreciate the people that are in their lives since they meet so many who have no family or friends.

Additionally, engaging in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy gives a Christian respectability. After all, any person can claim to be a Christian. However, the true Christian does more than claim.  The true Christian lives out his or her words in faithful ministry to others.

The lazy, hazy days of summer have been given to us to  enjoy each other’s company, to rest from very busy schedules, and to recharge our batteries. We can, and should, be a bit “lazy” during summer.  However, we should never slack when it comes to practicing our faith. That is a twenty-four hour a day, seven days a week job. We recharge our spiritual batteries by engaging in ministry.

FAITH ACTION:  Consider volunteering (or supporting), either individually or as a family, a ministry that helps out those in need.