July 8, 2015 WBAS Topics For Families, REL Topic- Saints
By: Kathy Hendricks
Ron and I just returned from a long weekend in southwestern Colorado. After two delightful days with our daughter, Anna, at her home in Durango, we drove home over spectacular mountain passes and through large and small towns where Memorial Day festivities were taking place. The trip seemed to symbolize the passage into summer as feelings of relaxation and warmth overtook us.
The great mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, wrote that there was nothing sadder than a “drooping soul.” It takes “greening” power, she said, to counter such a pathetic spiritual state. I suppose that can take different forms, depending on our circumstances, but there are some commonalities that can draw us into summertime spirituality. Taking our prayers outdoors is one of them. With longer days and warmer temperatures, we open up creative ways to bring our hearts and minds to God.
The abundance of summer fruits and vegetables might induce us to eat lighter and in healthier fashion. Gratitude for these gifts of the earth flows easily, particularly when biting into a juicy peach or savoring the sight of a multi-colored salad. The end of the school year brings children into parks and playgrounds, and their lightheartedness reminds us to find our own outlets for joy and delight.
Hildegard used the word “Viriditas” – or Greenness – to describe the penetrating power of God’s Spirit in all of life. This divine energy is present in all seasons, but the sight of lush lawns and gardens in full bloom can bring the concept more fully into our consciousness during the summer. Each day then becomes a sacred opportunity to be the people Hildegard described as truly holy – those who “…draw to themselves all that is earthly.”
Bright Ideas
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Plan an outing with your family to a botanical garden, zoo, park, or other place where you can revel in God’s creation. Leave behind or silence cell phones and other devices in order to enjoy your surroundings.
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Download my Summertime Spirituality Reflection and use them with your family or as part of your daily regimen.
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