As I write this, I am getting ready to take a May trip to Nova Scotia to open the cottage in Pugwash. There are times when I think it is crazy to have a cottage 15 hours away. But, when I think of going there and being there, my heart and soul lift. There is a joy that emerges when I close my eyes and imagine being there. It is holy ground. It is Sabbath space.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the cottage and so it has defined summer for me since I was 6. There are only 3-4 years that I haven’t been there at all (Saskatchewan was further than 15 hours!) Are there places, experiences, traditions that define summer for you? It is good to have a time of the year where the pace and routines change a bit to give us rest and renewal.
Amidst that structured change of pace season, I also know that such a change is not an experience for all. There are health challenges, grief realities and family dynamics that don’t diminish or take a holiday. However, I hope that in these summer weeks, there will be some time for healing and experiencing wonder and grace.
Enjoy the places and experiences that lift our hearts and souls!
