Staying in Spiritual Rhythm: Summer’s Satisfaction (Part 5 of 5) 

Thursday, December 22, 2011

“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” John Keating, Dead Poets Society

In the 1989 classic movie, Dead Poets Society, we are introduced to an English teacher who is unorthodox teaching methods compared to the norm at the school of Weldon Academy. This English teacher John Keating, who is played by Robin Williams, teaches the boys a new phrase. This phrase is, “Carpe diem,” a Latin term that refers to seizing the day. Living life to the fullest. The boys are inspired and they secretly revive a school literary club, the “Dead Poets Society.” As time goes along the boys are faced with the expectations of who others expect them to be instead of trying to pursue their dreams. Simply living for the status quo instead. The main character, Neil Perry, has incredible pressure to become a doctor like his father, but wants to become an actor. There is a much tension between the two and turmoil begins to mount.

The results of this conflict are tragic, but the movie carries many important messages of life. (We’ll get a full look at this movie in the ministry, Shout Out to the Silver Screen, as we cover the “theme of dreams” in the holiday season of 2012.) Be Yourself. Dare to be different. Don’t be afraid to dream. Make the most of your life. Leave a lasting legacy. Above all, the phrase that stands out and makes the movie most memorable is, “Carpe Diem. Seize the day.” This is also the message of the season of summer for our souls. This is life–make the most the time you’ve been given. We get a glimpse of what life is meant to be. Free from the burdens of yesterday, full of laughter, joy, play, wonder, warmth, and love. Summer is a shadow of things to come, of the promise of what is yet to be–Heaven. Spring is like an appetizer, but the main course, the full feast of the never-ending holiday is summer. In summer, night and mourning flee away. Death is a feeble opponent that poses no threat. We see this clearly in the calendar season we call summer as well.

Summer is celebrated more than any other season. It marks the end of a long school year and of unbridled joy. The days are long and full of brilliant sunlight. We’re at our healthiest and strongest in summer. It’s easier to rise in the morning. Life is all around us in full harmony echoing the heart of our Creator. Plants and trees are at full bloom thriving in the environment. Our senses are at their highest peak. We feel the soft cut grass as we run through a park. Hear the chirping of birds. See the bright yellow dandelions and fireflies glow ever so gracefully at night. Taste the sweet sugar of watermelon and rich barbecue pork. Smell the fresh scent of strawberries and the aroma of freshly cut grass. We want summer to last forever. We never grow tired of it. When we’re caught in another season, we can’t help but long for it, crave it, thirst for another chance to embrace it fully and grab hold of its endless wonders.

The season of the soul of summer mirrors these traits. We feel most alive in this season, closer to God, and enjoy the company of loved ones more than ever. We thrive at what we are meant to do and who we are meant to be. Joy, contentment, and love overflow daily from our cup of life. We keep receiving more and more. It’s easy to nourish ourselves, warm ourselves, and refresh ourselves. The main characteristic of summer is–flow. It’s effortless. Everything comes easier, is easier to enjoy, the problems are few and far between, and there are few sacrifices demanded from us. Energy is easy to find. What’s not to like? There are many beneficial activities to partake in summer, but more than any other season there are precautions that must be put into practice. Lastly, there is also work to be done. Let’s first take a look at the activities.

The first activity seems obvious and it’s hard to guess–enjoy. It seems like a natural response and no doubt should be. It’s a time pursue your wildest dreams at full force. Use your imagination and pursue the possibilities. Play with a childlike wonder. Savoring every moment God has given you. A time of no worries where we simply need not be guilty about being carefree. Summer is a time when God delights in our joy. We all have a choice, though, to sit back and do nothing or enjoy it. But there are times when we do need to sit back and relax in summer as well.

Just like the activities of summer on our calendar, summer of the soul needs to invoke leisure. This is a time to rest and take delight in God’s presence. Slow down and spend time with your family, friends, and people you haven’t seen in awhile. As A.W. Tozer describes: “Those who are in Christ share with [God] all the riches of limitless time and endless years. God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. For those outside of Christ, time is a devouring beast; before the sons of the New creations, time crouches and purrs and licks their hands.” By being still we are reawakened to the wonder and beauty of the world around us and to the One who created it all. We can draw closer to God and are able to hear Him more clearly.  In Psalm 46:10 we read: “Be still and know that I am God.” Summer is a time during the calendar year we’re most likely to take a vacation and get away from it all. This needs to be our response when we are in the spiritual season of summer too–to get away from it all, rest in His presence, and take delight in who He is.

Another main activity of summer is living without worries. Winter is when we walk by faith and not by sight. Summer our faith is right before our eyes and becomes a living testimony because it is deeply felt within us. We’re walking in the light, we can see, and bask in His glory. It is a time to rejoice! “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Joy is all around us and it’s a time where thanksgiving needs to be plentiful. And more than in any other season–it should be almost a natural inclination  to do so. Everything is at its best now—we are full healthy, our marriage is thriving, our job is fruitful and invigorating, our dreams are passionately being pursued, and every bite of life is delicious. Thank God daily, often, and with everything you do. Never forget that this season is a gift from the Giver of life: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

The final activity of summer of note here is abounding in fruit. In summer, we are given more than most of us have the capacity to hold. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT) A danger of this is to take it all for granted and keep demanding more,  thus taking on the mindset of a consumer. Becoming addicted to pleasure but never pleased. It’s what Mark Buchanan describes as the “cult of the next thing.” To truly abound in the fruit that God freely provides we must learn contentment. It is not a time to hoard our wealth and stock our barns with blessings. Instead it’s a time of thanks and of giving out of those rich blessings. To share the fruit. The great irony of it all–the more you give away, the richer you become.

Just like in the summer time where we take precautions not to get burnt or dehydrated– there is a strong warning that come with the spiritual season of summer. Beware of droughts. Summers can become hot and dry for our souls. We need to soak things down more than this season than any other. Mark Buchanan writes, “You and I hold the glory of God in clay jars. We hold it, but thinly. We dry out quickly. We need a continues inpouring of the Spirit and a deep saturation in the Word.”  We cannot neglect spiritual disciplines such as spending time in the Word and prayer. So heed this warning–happy times are both a gift and a curse. In the summer the sun shines all the time. And nothing is hidden from its heat. The only remedy for the incoming drought is water. Water that provides life to our souls is the Word. By spending time with God. Drink Him in and soak in the life that only He can provide.

Although summer is full of fun and laughter–there is work to be done too. Summer is a time to gather firstfruits. “A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.”  (Proverbs 10:5, NLT) Just as summer produces the first crops of the season and farmers gather them for the harvest;  we should do so spiritually. We need to be wise and harvest God’s best for us. By giving God your best it means not holding anything back from Him. Ask questions such as: “Do I enjoy my time with God? Are my attitudes, actions, and thoughts shaped by His Word?, Do I seek God’s kingdom first and trust Him for my needs? ”  Simply learn to give God your best and watch as you reap God’s best for you in return.

The other main activity of work is being fruitful, but bears a warning. Don’t mistake busyness with production. Have you ever gone on a vacation and when you got home needed a vacation from that vacation you just were on?  We often confuse leafiness with fruitfulness. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? (Matthew 21:19) To illustrate that the nation of Israel was confusing their spiritually busyness with production and in the process tainting their worship of God. It is also a strong visual reminder to us that an abundance of leafiness means nothing. It’s by our fruit that we’re known. In summer we are often so full of energy with so much vibrancy that we lose our focus. We say yes to anything that peaks our interest and lose sight what’s truly important among the branches of all the stuff in our life. The answer–learn to say that simple word–”no.” Choose wisely on what you do and how you spend your time. Choose God’s best and what will benefit you the most in your walk with Christ.

When summer comes–seize the day.  There is no better time than now to live life with a reckless abandon with no regrets, no fear, no worries. Enjoy and savor every moment. Be thankful and worship God, the giver of all the perfect gifts you receive.  Take delight in His presence. Take heed of being burnt, though, from the heat summer brings. Gather fristfruits and bear much fruit. Choose God’s best always.

Summer is a foretaste of the brilliance and beauty of Heaven. A shadow of the perfection that awaits all of creation. It is what Heaven will be like in its final form. If you’re currently experiencing summer, know that it will come to an end at some point here on earth. All summers do. But not to fret. Soon we’ll all take part in the great adventure where “The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning” as C.S. Lewis wrote in the closing chapter of The Last Battle. But why wait for the term to end when it’s right before you? Right here, right now. Let us not forget these words: “Carpe diem. Seize the day.”

Radiant Reflection: This week we learned about the season of Summer. Answer these questions to help you apply the practices and principles we just covered:

1) What to you like most about the calendar season of summer? What activities and events to you enjoy?

2) How does the calendar season of summer mirror that of our souls? What’s different?

3) What are some of the activities we need to partake in during the summer? What are some of the practical ways you can place these activities into our spiritual walk with Christ?

4) What are the precautions that must be taken in consideration with summer? Why is this the case?

5) What type of work should be take part in when being in the spiritual season of summer? What is the warning that comes with being fruitful?

Can You Hear Me Now?: If you want a more complete picture of the spiritual season of Summer–pick up a copy of the book, Spiritual Rhythm, by Mark Buchanan. As our calendar year turns to winter–remember that the spiritual season of summer is possible at any point of the year. Seize the day and this holiday season for all it’s worth. Take delight and bask in the wonder and joy that Christmas brings. Make sure to find time for rest and reflection. Lastly, resolve to make 2012 a year where each day you give your all. Choose God’s best for your life. And make the phrase, “Carpe diem” your battle cry!

Future Features: We’ve reached the end of this series and the calendar year. There is only one more piece of new content yet to be added–the final Real of the Reel blog on the Toy Story trilogy set to be added tomorrow. After tomorrow, the next month will be used to celebrate the holidays, rest, and prepare for the upcoming year for SHOUT IT Ministries. There will be a brand new Weekly Blog series on Spiritual Awakening, along with all the other ministries starting up again in mid-to-late January. Also there will be a complete overhaul of design and navigation of this site that will take place in the re-launch of this site! The official date has yet to be determined. Stay tuned for further updates and a blog entry that will highlight all the information you need as we embark on the upcoming new year. I want to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! God Bless you and your family! See you back here in January of 2012!

Sources:

Mark Buchanan, Spiritual Rhythm, Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2010. Pages 112-114, 124-127, 128, 130-132, 134-136, 139-140

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Poets_Society