An Invitation to Summer

Written by Adele Thorpe
 

In my God-given imagination, I was walking with Jesus in a forest. Enjoying His leading and the security of His presence. As we walked, I touched the bare trees that enveloped us, breathed in the earthy smell of leaves that covered the forest floor as I took each step. My eyes were drawn to a green shoot that was pushing through the blanket of leaves and as I bent down to take a closer look, I noticed more beautiful shoots. It was at this point I became aware that I was seeing juxtaposing seasons. As the thought came to me, Jesus posed the question, ‘‘What’s missing?’’
 

I looked around and after a while I realised there was no evidence of Summer. What would Summer even look like here? It didn’t concern me; this was such a beautiful space and I felt happy, content here. Looking to Jesus, I saw him smile and beckon me to the edge of the forest. As I stepped out bright sunrays hit my eyes causing me to lift my hands to see. Out in front of me was a beautiful meadowed hill, a big oak tree full of fresh, lime-green leaves and under the tree was a picnic blanket. On the blanket were baskets of fruit, loaves of bread and jugs of water. It looked so inviting. Why then did I feel my heart race, my mind grow loud, and a heaviness hit my shoulders like a weighted blanket? 
 

If someone asked me to define Summer. I would have told them it is a season of enjoying the fruits of labour, soaking in the warmth of the sun’s rays, observing the beauty of flowers. I would have described Summer as a wide, open season, standing in a wide meadow, feeling the breeze with arms stretched wide. A season of playtime, connection and adventure. 
 

Why then did this season feel vulnerable and pressured for me? My inner story was trying to tell me that this was a space to fear. A time to arriving at a destination, a time of completion, needing to show accomplishments and evaluate success. And I never came off well in my own eyes.
 

God showed me how I believed the lie that if I hadn’t ‘arrived’, ‘succeeded’ ‘progressed enough’ I had to keep on at it. ‘You cannot taste the fruits if you didn’t labour perfectly. You cannot delight in the moment if there is still more to do. Move along please!’ Get me to Autumn where it was okay to let go. To Winter where I could retreat to the safety of private space. Show me Spring where I can at least hope for new beginnings. But don’t put me in a wide-open space where I feel so much lack.
 

With Jesus’ firm and loving hand on my back He began to walk me out into that meadow hill towards the oak tree. He wanted to remind me that Summer is a time to come as His child and look only to Him. To taste His abundance and to sit and delight in His goodness. It is work in progress but I am heading into Summer this year with intention to re-story it for my life.
 

 I invite you to enter Summer just as God intended you to do – with a childlike spirit. Run up to him expecting his pre-prepared picnic, roll down a hill, and cartwheel with laughter until your tummy hurts. Sleep because you’re tired and well just because Jesus is so comfy to rest on. See this season as a time to play freely, connect deeply and
adventure wildly because that was his design. Delight yourself in the LORD, taste and see that He is good. 

"Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is.”

 Psalm 34:8