Reflections
Were not our hearts burning within us?
There is spiritual wisdom in slowing down, in stepping into the shade, in listening to the cicadas and the silence between.
I am not a fan of hot weather! And this last week has been hot and muggy in Atchison. However, the other day as I was complaining to myself, I was reminded about the disciples on the road to Emmaus who said, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” Burning heat describes the fervor needed to make the message of Jesus visible in a world that too often lacks compassion, empathy and justice.
The heat of the month can be both invigorating and exhausting, reminding us of our human limits and the need for rest.
July, settled deep in the heart of summer, invites a spirituality that is both vibrant and contemplative. The heat of the month can be both invigorating and exhausting, reminding us of our human limits and the need for rest. There is spiritual wisdom in slowing down, in stepping into the shade, in listening to the cicadas and the silence between. In the long days and warm nights, we are gently reminded that light still lingers, both outside and within.
Spiritually, July is an invitation to savor what is, to rest in God’s presence, and to walk gently. We become aware that the sacred often arrives in warmth, in stillness, and in the quiet flourishing of life that will invite us and then impel us to burst forth with the ever-burning love of God and neighbor. This love can transform the world — one family, one neighbor, one country at a time. May the thirst we feel in the searing heat of summer awaken in us a deeper awareness of our thirst for justice and peace and strengthen our resolve to pursue them with urgency and hope.
We are here at Sophia to offer a place for rest and renewal. We are always happy to welcome you for quiet retreat time or to attend one of our programs. Be assured of our prayers for many summer blessings.
