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August is my favorite month (and my favorite Taylor Swift song).
For us Massachusetts folk, it is, quite literally, the most beautiful month. I notice that the sun’s position in the sky casts a consistent golden-hour glow, the air isn’t quite as humid, and plants and flowers are in full bloom and full vibrancy. I find myself breathing deeply in the fresh air and pausing, grateful for the summertime rest, renewal, and memories.
It’s not long before August’s other meaning comes barreling into my head.
As a lifelong student, August has always meant back-to-school and back to “real life.” We get ready to say goodbye to old and new friends, we take our last days off, perhaps go on our last trip. No more outdoor adventures, no more days on the beach, and no more ice cream for days in a row. The list could go on. August somehow slips away.
It is a good thing that these two realities exist in this month, because they ask essential questions: where have I been and where am I going?
For us at FutureChurch - we’ve been motoring all summer between travel, new projects, and many events and are looking forward to a busy and exciting Fall. We are heading to the Synod in Rome, planning our Fall Event, and are cultivating new and exciting ideas for our organization.
Now, more than ever, feels like the perfect time to celebrate these questions: Where have we been and where are we going?
August somehow slips away, but it also invites us to reflect on what has been, and nurture what is becoming.
Sending you love, joy, and blessings as the summer comes to a close.
A Prayer for the End of Summer
Sarah E. Westfall
May this season of trading
sunscreen and sandals
for backpacks and pencils
usher in familiar rhythms.
May you be gentle with yourself
for summer days that didn’t go as planned,
for more screen time than expected,
or for when the sameness of being home
overlapped into weeks now blurry.
May the highs and lows of summer
settle into gratitude for what was
and fill you with welcome for what is ahead.
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