Summer adventures just around the corner: July is a gift, let us use it wisely

#UpliftingMessage

Beaverton and Tualatin Hills are hosting a July 4 Concert and Celebration. Or if you want a taste of our city’s artistic and cultural diversity, take in Ten Tiny Dances, a performative arts event on July 9 upon a 4’ x 4’ stage. If an intercultural and family-friendly Night Market with ethnic foods and craft vendors sounds intriguing, circle July 23 on your calendar.

Shakespeare was right about this time, “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” Deferred vacations since March of 2020 may tempt us to overextend ourselves, leaving us not refreshed by summer’s end but exhausted. John Lubbock in The Use of Life reminds us, “Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

How might we best receive this gift of time?

May we receive the gift of leisure. There are unparalleled outdoor excursions from mountain peaks to ocean shores, windsurfing to wineries, nature parks to greenway trails, or farmers markets to being a fan in the stands at Providence Park.

May we also receive the gift of light.

July is the sunniest month locally; it’s important to remember the extra light can help us see better not just physically, but spiritually. As we woolgather let us receive that light and reflect upon our lives, seeking interior illumination.

Let us receive the gift of love.

Summer romances often fade by season’s end but can be the start of something more durable. For those already in relationships, why not renew that love? Or take up a new beloved hobby, or revive a prior one?

July is a gift, let us use it wisely.

Rev Sybrant has a Masters in Divinity, Social Work, and a Doctor of Ministry. For more information, visit us at 15050 SW Weir Road. www.murrayhills.org | 503-524-5230