Summer

Summer is a wonderful invention. Really. Whoever thought of giving students, who have worked hard for 9 solid months, 3 months of vacation, sunshine, and bliss, my hats off to them (figuratively, as I'm not wearing a hat, but you get it). 

This summer is one of the last I will probably have as much freedom as I have now, being jobless and all. However California is calling, and I will be spending about 6 weeks out there starting June 26th. I think my favorite part of summer is the time it gives me away from deadline and stress in general. Of course I still have responsibilities and such, but nowhere near the pressure I feel from when school starts in August to when it ends in May. 

It's a season of relaxation, a type of sabbath if you will. Sitting here after sleeping in, going for a bike ride, swimming, and organizing my CD collection, I realize why God calls us to take a sabbath. Because despite my hardest efforts, I'm not superwoman. I can't do everything forever. And I'm not supposed to. 

Thankfully, I have time to recoup from the hectic schedule and life I lead from August to May. And don't get me wrong, I love to be busy and I love everything I'm doing and learning during this time in my life. I love the pressure of being in charge and getting things done...I thrive on it. For awhile. And then I need a break. A short time-out on reality.

Thank you summer.

Pride.

I hate pride. Pride keeps people from saying I'm sorry, or I love you, or you were right. Pride can separate the best of friends or even family members. Worse than that, pride keeps us from giving God glory and fulfilling his will for our lives. Pride makes us take our focus off God and put it on ourselves. And what's the point of pride anyway? Why do we think we're so great? We're dirt. Dust. Powerless on our own. And yet there is that part of us that is longing for recognition from our peers and respect from our followers; and it can easily make us proud when we receive it.

 I think the scariest thing about pride is how subtle it can be. It's easy to spot pride in others, but how about ourselves? Our pride won't let us admit we're prideful! We think that somehow we are above the prideful temptations that Kings David and Solomon, and even Jesus faced. When Jesus was tempted in the desert, one of the temptation was dominion over all the world. How would that boost your ego? Yet Jesus didn't stumble, he remained completely humble and used God's word to counter the attack. Like a sheep before his shearers, he was silent in the face of ridicule and disdain. If the son of God can face murderous threats with humility, how much more do we need to?