I tuck in tight during the winter, folded in on myself. We are busy and I hate the cold. In the summer, our rhythms slow. Other people are busy with trips and camps, but our conversations are like this: What are we going to do today? Maybe go to the pool? Sure. There is time for things we eschew during the school year, time to let our hearts unfold like flowers turning to the sun. We have long lunches and play dates and catch up with neighbors at the pool. We force friends to watch our favorite movies and laugh together at the fashions and the predictability of the plots. And then we cry when it turns out that the reason we love them is that they are pretty great after all.
I recognize the opening of my heart as something precious. I would call it hospitality, and I will confess that I talk so much about it because it is not my gift. I am thankful for the open-hearted people around me who bring me into summer mode each year, who welcome themselves into my house and draw me out into the world. It is not possible to live our summer rhythms all year, but I will try to carry this hospitality with me through October testing and January testing and April testing and May testing (we do a lot of testing).
This week, hospitality is saving my life (as well as movies from the 80s and 90s). What is saving your life this week?
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4 Comments
Music is saving my life. Especially when I hear Miles singing. I was watching a lady sign (ASL) a song yesterday, but her motions were so rigid I thought, “I should teach her how to sing in ASL.” Then I thought about how closely talking and singing are, but how singing propels us into another state. Miles and I have great conversations, but when he sings I am driven to a point where my world becomes external to his. It’s not that he is a great singer, although he sings well, but there is something about hearing his singing that I love. I think that is the reason why the Bible commands us to sing so much. We need it, but God loves to hear it too because He loves us so much.
I love this idea of hospitality as opening, and yes, it is saving my life, too. Also saving my life: brunches with friends, fresh berries, good books, and the prospect of a calm weekend.
I am so thankful for the bits of summer that have no particular agenda. The next two weeks are like that – no workshops, no travel plans, no particular appointments… My favorite days during the school year are often the Saturdays that have no plans so that I can putter about the house or yard, go shopping for nothing in particular, curl up with a good book or watch a good movie. I often ask myself when I read these “saving my life” posts just what it is that is saving my life and I’m never quite sure. But I do think that looking forward to two weeks of no agendas is saving my life right now.
Hospitality is not my gift either. This whole post couldnt have described me any better. ((except I’m taking 3 summer classes.)) lol