The door to June opens tomorrow! To greet this month is to honor the transition to summer; it is to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost for some; it is to open our windows and hearts to a slower pace, to a promise to savor and perhaps even delight in a time away by the shore or in the mountains, or little “get a-ways” like picnics, and rides to get ice cream. Summer in its own unique way reveals much about God’s kingdom and its mysteries as it beckons to us each year to learn again what FULLNESS means: all around us everything is in FULL bloom…the green can sometimes overtake you!! Summer is a season I have long looked forward to as a teacher of some 40 plus years…it meant a different rhythm and time finally to relish and notice and slow down. In my book, “A Seasoned Life,” I confess that summer was and is the season whose final weeks I cling to the most, always begging for more and so reluctant to let summer go so as to be able to welcome autumn!

Those kingdom mysteries are so often brought home to us through the words and actions of “little ones…” A couple weeks ago while at an outdoor concert with my youngest granddaughter, Evelyn, we both let ourselves experience baptism…with a little b! It ushered in for both of us an early taste of summer with its inherent permission to let go and do what you dare. It was very warm that afternoon, and after running around chasing her cousins Evelyn came to me all sweaty and red-faced. She said, “Memere, do you know what I wish?”  “I wish you would pour cold water over my head so it would drip all over me and cool me off!” Well, her Mom wasn’t around and quickly before I had the time to talk myself out of it…I did just that!!!  I only wish I could have captured the look on her face! It said thank you, I can’t believe you did it, and golly that feels sooo good, all at the same time! It shall have to be an unphotographed memory, but I cherish its lesson as summer comes around again in 2022: those of us who have been baptized with water and God’s Spirit are meant to live life to the full, allowing ourselves spontaneous and unrestrained joy! I wish you all a tangible reminder of your own baptism this summer as you let yourself be renewed each time you sit by the water, go swimming, take a refreshing shower, make a pitcher of lemonade, and even cool off by pouring cold water all over you or someone who asks you to do it to them!

Go ahead! Be baptized anew and become a man, woman or child who is fully alive for our good God!

June sometimes finds us celebrating the feast of Pentecost, as it does this year on June 5th. For Christians it is the day to not only remember that the Spirit came upon Jesus’ followers enabling understanding and courage, but it is a day for us to invite the Spirit anew into our lives, infusing them with the just mentioned above spontaneous joy, and the desire to teach others courageously that we’ve been put on this earth for a purpose, and are given daily all we need to grow into that purpose! Happy Spirit Day to all of you!

I wish safe travels to all who will “get away” for a time this summer, and I recommend enjoying a fellow blogger’s take on the 3 things that traveling can gift us with: joy and anticipation in the planning, embracing the present moment in new places, and insights through reflections once you’re back home again. (see Jean Wise, May 31 entry, healthyspirituality.org )

At this time I would like to thank all those who have left reviews of my book on amazon.com, and encourage you to subscribe below to get this monthly blog in your inbox.   

Happy June to all!