Summer is traditionally a time when we try to fit in a lot of opportunities for recreation. Getting outside where it is warm enough to swim, hike and spend time in the beauty of God’s creation. All this exercise helps us to “re-create” our bodies, making up a little, though never quite enough for the feasting and downtime of the long dark winter season. It also helps lighten our mood. The darkness of the long cold winter nights gives way to warmth and brilliance of summer days and our mood changes and lifts just as the flowers and trees lift their branches heavenward and break out in a profusion of blossoms. The change in our mood is profound. In some people the change from summer to winter affects them so much that Doctors are forced to treat them for depression, all for the lack of light in their lives.

If the simple lack of enough sunlight in our lives is enough to disturb our emotional well being, what effect will the lack of God’s light in our lives have on our spiritual well being? In the Creation “the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 The Hebrew word used here for breath is ruach. The same word is also used when the author is speaking of wind or spirit. This close connection is intentional. God is the air we breathe, the Spirit which animates and guides us and it truth we are being re-created with every breath we breathe.

The theme of re-creation cuts a broad path throughout the New Testament. In Romans Paul talks about the whole creation groaning as it awaits God’s the Children of God, the New Creation in which you and I are taking part. The Re- creation we are part of is the life of the Spirit we are called to in our Baptism. . Paul tells us that if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. Romans 8:10-11 We need get recreation for our spirit this summer in the same way we are getting recreation for our mind and bodies. Just as the mountains and the oceans give us a setting for our physical self they also are an ideal setting. From the Psalms we hear; The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19

One of the easiest things we can do to get some Spiritual recreation is just to stop, be still, look around and behold the glory of God. As beautiful as our world is it is surprising how seldom we honestly take the time to see it. To make it an even deeper experience, take the time to tell God what you see and how much you appreciate it. It is from this attitude of praise that God is often able to lead our overly busy minds into the silence where we can hear God’s voice speaking.

Another thing we can do to help find this place of spiritual re-creation is to take time to read the Bible. Sit outdoors with the wind, the breath of God stirring around you, and immerse yourself in the poetry and Narratives of God’s grace and love.

Paul tells us that we should not grow weary in doing good. The very fact that he is concerned enough to talk about it means that it is a very real difficulty we all face. Being a people of God, seeking and doing God’s will, takes everything we have. Unless we take the time for Spiritual re-creation it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Taking time for God as an important part of you recreation, not just this summer but throughout you life is as necessary to life in the spirit as the air we breath. Connect yourself to the source of life this summer, take time to re-create the Spirit within you.

Pastor Jim Bliss
May 2008