Back to School

Pause

School has begun, and in a few short weeks, the blissful days of summer are going to come to an end. The weather will turn cooler, the shadows deeper, and the busyness of the new school year will really take over.

Though each school year promises exciting opportunities to meet new people and build new relationships at school, pause for a moment and consider the relationships that you share with others in your faith community.

Listen

Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one! It is like expensive oil poured over the head, running down onto the beard— Aaron’s beard!— which extended over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew on Mount Hermon streaming down onto the mountains of Zion, because it is there that the Lord has commanded the blessing: everlasting life.

Psalm 133:1-3

 

Think

I don’t know about you, but when I think of the times my extended family were all living under one roof together, I don’t conjure up images of some old biblical guy’s beard. I don’t care how expensive the oil is, drippy oil running down Aaron’s head through his overgrown beard fails to leave me with great feelings for my family. Same with the second image the psalmist offers us — dew streaming down a mountain. What does that have to do with families living together?

Take a moment and consider how you might describe a time when your whole family is together. Is it chaotic, is it fun, is it a blessing? In the end, what I think the writer is trying to tell us is that when we truly live in Christian community, with those with whom we are closest, it is a blessing that continually pours down and through our lives. The blessings keep coming, even when we don’t realize it. Being together isn’t always easy, but when we do it in God’s love, God’s blessings flow abundantly.

Jason Santos

Pray

God of love, I thank you for the many blessings in my life, but in particular, I thank you for my family. Bless each one of us and be with us as we seek after you. In your bountiful grace, amen.

Go

Okay … now seize this day and those wonderful relationships you have in your church by sharing a moment with someone from your faith community. As you begin this transition to the next season, try sharing it with someone close to you.