Summer Rhythms
by Dawn Mack
In the last few weeks, a question I have been hearing frequently is: “what are your plans for the summer?” Whether it’s vacations, projects around the house, extra family time, or simply a slower pace, our rhythms often shift during these months. As followers of Christ, how can we approach those changing rhythms in a way that honors God?
The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:11, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” If we call ourselves followers of Christ; we are to imitate Him in everything we do. What does that look like when it comes to our rhythms— specifically rest and work?
Jesus says in John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Rest and work are not opposites; they complement one another. In order to rest, we need to abide or remain in Him— the Vine. When we truly rest in Him, it is then that we can bear fruit. A branch that is not attached to a vine cannot bear fruit— so it is with our relationship with the Lord. We need to stay attached to Him in order to rest and therefore do the work that He has called us to do. If not, verse 6 goes on to say that if anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” How can we (the branches) stay attached to the Vine (Jesus) so that we can transition from resting and abiding in Him to working and producing fruit for Him?
The best place to go for that is Scripture; following the example of Jesus. In Mark 1, we see Jesus healing the sick, and then rising early in the morning to pray. In Mark 6, Jesus feeds the 5,000 with his disciples, and then He went up to the mountain to pray. We see Jesus moving between working to advance the Kingdom of God and resting and abiding with the Father— much like a pendulum.
As we read Scripture, we can notice that Jesus doesn’t stay on one side of the pendulum or the other for too long. He balances rest and work perfectly, just as the Father designed for us. We know that as sinful humans, we won’t be able to balance rest and work perfectly. So what happens when we inevitably rest for too long, or work for too long? We might miss out on what God might have for us either way. If we rest for too long, we may become lazy or have a distorted perspective of what rest is. If we work or bear fruit for too long, we may experience burn out and start to do the work God has called us to do on our own strength, rather than abiding with Him and depending on Him for our strength.
As our schedules and rhythms change with the summer season, we may have more room for rest— and I don’t mean vegging out on the couch binging on Netflix. The rest we truly need is rest with our Father—soul-nourishing rest that can truly refresh our souls. This type of rest is a beautiful invitation to delight in the Lord, be in His presence, commune with Him, and be restored by Him.
What might this look like? Yes, it could be spending more time in prayer or reading Scriptures— but let’s think a bit further. Being in His presence and delighting in Him could be: taking a walk and listening to nature (by yourself or with a friend!), doing a fun activity with your kids, enjoying a delicious meal with friends, inviting friends to a pick up game of basketball or pickleball at the park, or even inviting friends to engage in a Bible study together. Maybe resting as a church could look like being more intentional in our relationships with one another.
If you’re looking for others to connect with, consider using the new Info Board at Center to invite people into activities you’re already planning this summer. You’ll find it in the hallway past the bathrooms, across from the Meeting Room.
As summer naturally allows us to slow down, ask the Lord how He might be inviting you to abide in Him more intentionally. He may just be using that time to prepare you for a new season of Kingdom work with Him.
How can you live out your everyday faith in the middle of what you’re facing today?
For prayer or encouragement, connect with Kate Dodd, Director of Care, at Kate@centerchurch.live.
