By Katie Murray
We started a family practice a couple of years ago where we take a few days to get out of town and visit the Texas Hill Country before school starts. Our kids have caught on to this rhythm, and our few days of swimming, eating s’mores every night and spending time together are something they look forward to all summer.
I also anticipate this time away every year and have found that it helps to serve as a reset for me mentally and emotionally. I can mark the final days of summer while preparing myself for the transition to fall. Soon we will trade early morning cartoons on the couch for early morning walks to school. Unscheduled days will be saved for Saturdays as we fall into our weekday routine. Late nights at the pool will become late nights watching high school football. It will still be hot, so I guess we can take solace in the fact that some things will stay the same.
These moments of reset aren’t just important for seasonal shifts, but also for the transitions we experience day in and day out. A morning cup of coffee, a daily walk and even our commutes to work can serve as intentional times to mark the transitions within our day, refocusing our attention so we can attend to our next set of tasks.
Sunday worship also serves as a moment to reset our focus. Even the most spiritually disciplined among us is not immune to the realities of life that draw our attention away from God. Our time here this morning is a reminder that we do not go about our days alone, but in communion with God and in community with our family of faith.
Today’s service will have several moments that can serve as resets for us today. Perhaps during Hattie’s baptism you can take time to focus on your own commitments you have made to God. When we come to the table for the Lord’s Supper, try refocusing your attention on noticing where God shows up in your life in the most ordinary of places. When we say the Lord’s Prayer, remember the interconnectedness that we share with people praying this exact prayer all over the world.
May our recentering this morning prepare us to focus on what truly matters in the week ahead.