No matter which direction you go, summer beckons

William Shakespeare’s 18th Sonnet asks, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Summer’s lease hath all too short a date, but thy eternal summer shall not fade. So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives these eternal lines, and this gives life to thee.”

Shakespeare comments on summer/life’s brevity and beauty; reflecting and writing poetically confers immortality. He paraphrased Socrates: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Summer provides beauty and an opportunity to reflect upon our life’s purpose and direction.

July offers a plenitude of possibilities to enjoy summer events and engage in deeper questions about our existence. Consider the unique landscapes of our state and how they invite questions about our lives.

Why not watch the sunrise in the far eastern high desert?
What “dry times” have you had in life and what did you learn?
Where was surprising life found in the wilderness?

Head eastward midmorning until you see Mount Hood’s snowcapped peak rising in the distance.

By what landmarks do you orient your life, regardless of the direction you travel?
What peaks in life have you summited and what remain?

Head north to the rushing Columbia River.

When has life carried you along effortlessly and when have you swam against the current?
What forces move beneath the surface of your life?

Head southwest midafternoon to a diverse and drenched coastal temperate rainforest. Towering fir and spruce tree branches are covered by moss and lichens; smaller trees grow where branches and trunk meet.

What ecosystem raised you as a child, and how are you providing shelter for future generations?

Head west for a Pacific coast sunset with basalt formations offshore.

What daily tidal rhythms shape your days and direct you horizonward?

Rev. Dr. Sybrant serves at Murray Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For more info, visit us at 15050 SW Weir Road, Beaverton. 503-524-5230 www.murrayhills.org