Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

Remember this song by Nat King Cole?

"Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer.

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,

You’ll wish that summer could always be here."

The weather is getting warmer.  The parks are filled with people having cook outs.  School is over and the kids are riding bikes and swimming.  We have changed from football and hockey to baseball and soccer.  The days are longer and the nights shorter.  The constant rain has changed to afternoon showers that help cool the heat of the day.

It must be summer!  Summer!  That means all different activities, vacation, sleeping in, picnics, and swimming (sun burns and tan lines).  What a wonderful season of the year.

It’s summer so everything slows down and we have more time. Y ou know, the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer”. Right?  I can safely say that, in my adult life, summer has never slowed time for me.

It is true that summer means I do different things from what I did in winter.  But I seem to run around even more.  My time is still not my own and there are always deadlines.  The only thing difference is that it’s hot - not snowing and cold.

Does this sound like your life?  I bet it does.  There is nothing wrong with this at all.  It is really good for us to have a change of routine, weather, and recreation.  God was so wise when He created the four seasons for us to enjoy. Each one brings blessings unique to itself.  It would be wise of us to slow down and enjoy the flavor of each season.

It is so nice to be lazy on the hot, humid, hazy days of summer.  We can stay outside longer in the evenings because it stays light longer.  We take our families to the park to play and picnic.  The fresh fruit and vegetables in the super market looks wonderful and is affordable.  We look forward to going on vacation.  We can actually get outside and see our neighbors.  Maybe even have block parties to get to know the neighbors even better.

There is something else we tend to do during the summer months.  We forget that we still need to get our spiritual food.  It is easy to sleep in on Sundays and miss church. Instead of reading our Bible, we want to catch up on the books we never got to read in the winter.  The routine at church slows down and we start the long season of Pentecost.  We tend to get away form the “habit” of being in church.  All the exciting events of the church year are ahead of us.  Reformation, Christmas, Easter, Advent, Lent, Pentecost Sunday, and Holy Trinity Sunday are all ahead of us.  So Sundays can seem pretty routine.  We are able to convince ourselves we won’t miss anything if we don’t go to church today.  We won’t miss much right?  Wrong!

I can give personal testimony to the need for spiritual food.  As you know, my internship is quickly coming to the finish line.  The last of the classes at Gettysburg are in two weeks.  Then I get to do whatever projects are assigned from those classes.  After that I have an approval essay to write and turn into the synod and to Gettysburg.  At the same time, I begin the call process to ordained ministry.  Let’s not forget the obligations I have as a wife and mother and intern.  While this appears overwhelming, (sometimes it is) I have found if I take the time to pray and read scripture, in addition to what I need to read for sermons, and have “quiet time” with God, I can get everything done I need to do.  I also feel refreshed and energized after taking time for God to enter into my heart and mind. Spending time with God really does make a difference.

So if the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” aren’t so lazy and are completely “crazy” for you, remember to invite God into your world.  Take your coffee and go outside early in the morning.  Sit in the shade and clear your mind. Let God hold you in the palm of His hand and let him be in relationship with you.  Do get to church on the weekend even if you are on vacation.  It is fun to see different church services and compare them to your own church.  But most of all, take the time to be in relationship with your Lord.

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are just made for us to kick back and spend time with God.

Pittsburgh Lutheran United Ministries (PLUM), 405 Kennedy Avenue, Duquesne, PA 15110        412-466-7773