Summer Time
A Time not to be Wasted
Summer Time for a College Kid-
Beaches, bonfires, baseball, brew's (when of age), and bros. The "Five B's" of summer.
Summer time for a college kid is normally all about taking a break from school, making some money, and just relaxing. All of this is good, but if your summer ends and all you got out of it was memories of those nights you went to your friends and drank beer and watched baseball, or those days you spent at the beach, it could be said that you might have wasted your summer. Why do I say that? I will get to that.
I was talking to a friend of mine recently, and we were discussing our summer plans, and she was telling me how difficult it is for her to get to mass in the summer, though she wanted to go regularly. She said during the school year it was part of her daily routine, and she loved going, desired it so very much. During the summer though? She told me how tough it was for her, and in part because it wasn't as convenient as before. During the school year, she could walk to mass, but now at home, she had to drive to mass if she wanted to go, making it much more difficult. She still plans on going this summer, which is good, but I know not everyone can say the same.
In some cases, daily mass in not an option. If you work at six in the morning, and go until three or four, you might have missed all available masses. For the most part, parishes only have daily morning mass, so often times, it is impossible. Even when they do have evening masses though, it can be hard to motivate yourself to go, because frankly, you are probably just tired from your day of work, and just want to relax. So sometimes it is not even an option, and even when it is, it is difficult to go.
The same goes with other prayer, such as holy hours, rosaries, etc. When your in school, especially at Franciscan, everyone is always praying, always going to the port or the chapel; Mass is offered three times a day. When summer hits though, things change, and it becomes more difficult to pray, to go to mass. It is not as convenient as it once was. That's the thing though - your faith is not about convenience! Your faith and my faith is a continual journey of growth and conversion, and we can't allow change in routine to dictate that.
That is why I said you might have wasted your summer if that is all you got out of it. Though it could be argued that the summer time is more difficult to stay faithful and consistent in prayer, that does not validate lukewarmness. In the bible it says, "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I will spit you out of my mouth." Revelations 3:16
Honestly, the summer time is such a great time for growth, and the fact that it can be more of a challenge, makes it all the more rewarding. I understand the challenges that come with summer, for I am not immune to them myself, but I also understand that it just means I have to work harder.
We have to strive for that continual conversion, and we really need to want it. If this means working on just loving your family while your home, do it. Avoiding your family just so you don't fight with them is not virtuous. And when it comes to your old high school friends, you might have to reevaluate your friendships with them. I understand wanting to hang out with them regardless of their character, because they are the people you grew up with, and maybe you even think you can change them, but it doesn't always work like that, and sometimes those people can lead you to sin as well. So yes, in some cases, you might be called to stop hanging out with some people. The list of things go on and on - avoid drunkenness, sexual sins, drugs, etc.
In the end, we have to look at all we do, and ask ourselves, is this bringing us closer to the kingdom of God, or is it taking us farther away?
We have a choice right now - we can either decide to look at this summer as just a vacation, or we can look at it as part of the journey. These summer months will test you, and they'll force you to confront your demons, but that is where the decision comes: do you face them head on, and fight back, or do you run away or fall to them. St. John of the Cross said, "We must adjust our trials to ourselves, and not ourselves to our trials."
The choice is yours.
Continue to pursue holiness, fight the good fight, and with all things, pray. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Enjoy your summer and pray for me, as I'll be praying for you.
"He died for me, so I will live for him."
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