Matthew 13:1  That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. (NIV)

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What is it about calm bodies of water that makes them ideal for deep thought and meaningful reflection? 

Our summer vacation took us to Lake Michigan. We started in Traverse City on Michigan’s west coast. Later, we made our way through Boyne City and Petoskey, and then across the Big Mac Bridge to St. Ignace. Lake Huron meets Lake Michigan there. Mackinac Island is nearby and reachable by a short ferry ride. We spent an enjoyable day there riding bicycles around the island and sampling fresh-made fudge. 

Our hotel in St. Ignace was fairly new and had a beach out back. There were also two decks where you could sit and enjoy peaceful mornings and evenings. Having spent a summer along those shores, my journey was full of memories long stored and reviewed with others, refreshed by sights, sounds, and tastes. New memories feature our granddaughters and their parents at play. 

Sometimes the most spiritual and beneficial thing we can do is go sit by calm water. 

We have a lake nearby and streams that flow from it. Until the last week or so, we could hear water tumbling over stones as we crossed the footbridges. Yesterday, we noticed only a small pool of stagnant water and a dry creek bed with rocks bleached by the sun. 

Hopefully, summer’s end will bring autumn rains and the soothing sounds of a babbling brook with the tales they tell and the stories they bring to mind. 

Seasons come, and seasons go. Change requires taking hold and letting go.

What do you need to hold securely?

What do you need to let go?

Spend some time near water and ponder your change of season. Give thanks for what’s right and build on it. Seek God’s direction regarding what’s wrong and repair it. Work toward clarity on what’s hazy and adjust focus. Add in what’s missing. 

Give thought to the core issues that repeat themselves for weal or for woe. What assistance do you require for chronic problems? What assistance can you offer through your signature strengths?

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I will schedule time for waterside reflection.

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Our Father, thank you for leading us by still waters. Thank you for times of reflection. Thank you for meeting us there when it is calm, and when it is stormy. What do you want to say to us today? Give us ears to hear you clearly, and a willing heart to join you in this new season’s adventures. Amen.