Summer Hydration

There are many things to love about summer days: the warmth of sunshine, extra time with family and friends, traveling, and baseball. It seems for many, at least in Michigan, we endure the winter months of cold and snow hoping for the arrival of summer. As a runner I have mixed feelings at best about running in summer. I tend to have more time and certainly more daylight hours to run, and the trails tend to be in their best shape in summer. The downside is the heat and humidity make it tremendously difficult to run. A normal 5 mile run can feel like 8 and one can quickly become dehydrated from the extreme heat. Of course I refuse to stop running in any weather so I have learned to make accommodations for hot conditions. When it is very hot I run with a water bottle and take breaks as needed.

Spiritually, summer is a time when many take a break from regular church attendance and the spiritual disciplines of scripture and prayer. We have family vacations, graduation parties, out of town guests, and many simply need a break from the unrelenting schedule of school year routine. It is good to have time for rest and sabbath, but if we are not careful we may find ourselves spiritually dehydrated if you do not continue to take time for God in our lives.

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

It is so easy in life to become either overwhelmed by stress and anxiety that we do not make time for God in our life OR when we have time to relax, we not only take time away from our routines but we take time away from God. This can be spiritually dangerous because we simply cannot live long or well apart from the amazing love and grace of God. When we drink from the font of Jesus' love we are filled with all that we need.

What makes dehydration so difficult, both spiritually and physically, is that we often are unaware of being dehydrated until well after the process has begun. As a runner, when I sense my own thirst and begin to feel dehydrated it is already too late. My body has already begun to slow down and become less efficient. Spiritually, we enter into dry times we often cannot notice until we reach a really dry and depressing place. The key then is to avoid dehydration by remaining hydrated. We must continually come to Jesus to be filled up with love and grace, keeping us in good spiritual health.

The good news for us is that whether we have hit a dry spell or remained steadfastly hydrated in God's word, prayer, and worship, it is never too late to return to the font. We all live with a thirst for God and in Christ we find our fulfillment. May God bless you in days of summer dehydration!