It’s mid-August and September is on the horizon, but it’s too early to let go of the chance that summer gives me to be less programmed and spend time with family and friends. I’m mentally balancing eking out these last two weeks of summer with preparing to teach three classes this fall and looking forward to a new Epiphany program year in September. I started that sentence thinking about it as an upcoming transition but am finding myself drawn to the idea of balancing:
How to get the most out of this time to catch my breath? To stop and reflect? To be still?
How to prepare for what’s to come so that I don’t miss opportunities? So that I’ve put the planning in to be free to engage what I’m looking forward to?
And how to avoid letting my propensity to worry seep through the planning and drown out the moment to rest and reflect?
I don’t have answers to those questions (sorry to anyone who read this far hoping for an answer!). But I think there’s something to looking at it as a balance point rather than a transition. The chance to catch my breath and the preparation for what comes next are happening together and seems to add texture to both.
I’m looking forward to what I see on my calendar for September: Rally Day, Midweek, the Parish Weekend Away, sitting on the floor sharing Godly Play stories with the church school children, Friday mornings at St. Luke’s. Even more so, I’m looking forward to seeing all of you.
In the meantime, it’s been wonderful seeing so many people this summer and seeing the steps full during the children’s sermon.
Nelia Newell
