Summer Vacation Christians

Good afternoon!

Recently, I had picked-up my daughter from school and we were driving home when I said, rather excitedly, "Only 10 1/2 days left of school!" Of course, I anticipated the "normal" response of "Oh, I can't wait!" or "I wish it was over now!" When I was her age (10 yrs. old), that was my response. When I was 21 and in college, that was my response. When I was 25 and in seminary, that was my response!!! I don't think I have ever had a different response. But, I should have learned a long time ago to expect the unexpected from my daughter. Her first response came in a sound that sprung forth from the depths of her soul. It was deep...almost gutteral...with hints of a high pitched whine. I didn't know if she was getting ready to explode with excitement or stroke out in despair!

After her initial response she said, "Noooooo! I don't want school to be over!" I have to honest, I thought my child was losing it and I started to wonder if my wife had eaten some weird food when she was pregnant that created this odd behavior. (and no, I don't always blame my wife for genetic oddities) I asked her why she wasn't excited for school to be out and she said she likes school, she likes learning, and she likes being around her friends. After my shock wore off, I must say that I am awfully proud that my daughter responded the way she did. Why wouldn't a parent be excited that his/her child loves to learn and loves doing it with her friends?

In reflection, God did not create us to turn off our brains and disengage from the lessons He is trying to teach us. God did not create us to be isolated in our learning and growing. Yet, for so many Christians, we stop growing and we stop doing it together. When we accept Christ or we've done "our time" in the church, we become summer vacation Christians...excited for the time when we can sit back, relax, and tell ourselves we've learned all we need to learn and we've done what we needed to do. At least for our children, they have to go back to school. But, it can be so easy, as Christians, to take a permanent summer vacation.

I want the excitment my daughter has for learning and growing. I don't want to be content with what I already know (or think I know for that matter). I want my faith, my religion, my life to experience the excitement of wondering, "What is God going to teach me next?" While taking the time to relax is good and important for a balanced life...I'd like to find time to relax with my God and allow Him to reveal to me deeper understandings of who He is and how He is working in my life and in the lives of those around me. And, you know what? Like my daughter understands, God grows me by working through other Christians in my life. I need the Body of Christ. You and I cannot grow on our own - neither apart from each other and nor apart from God.

As it says in The Message translation of 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, "Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working."

As summer is quickly approaching, resist the temptation to become a summer vacation Christian. Pray that God would help you become a year-round Christian. One who is excited about the life lessons you learn (good and bad) and one who thirsts for the powerful presence of God in your life. Pray that God would offer you boldness and courage to seek out other Christians with whom you can grow. Pray that God, through Jesus Christ, would renew your mind and conform your heart and life to the likeness of our Lord.

Holy God, thank You for loving me and reminding me that there is more to my life than what I have come to know. Forgive me of my lazy spirit and renew within me a heart that is on fire for you. Help me to joyfully accept the lessons You are teaching and to humbly submit to Your molding of my heart. I desire to live my life for You. Grow me and make me into the person You know I can be. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.