Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"Being a Cool Cat In the Dog Days of Summer"
Sermon for July 18th

There comes a time in the summer and in life, in general, when we realize some important things about ourselves. We realize the rush of time and we see how time is precious to us. Usually, it will come at a time when things kind of slow down.

The heat of the summer has a way of doing that to us. It causes us to slow down and take stock of ourselves. It makes us ask questions we wouldn't otherwise ask.

Here are some of the questions the "dog days of summer" pose:

Am I doing all that I can with the life I am living?
Are there other roads I could take?
What if I die tomorrow? How will the world be different because I lived?

Having just returned from the funeral for my step father I realize there are more people I have known who are among the dead than the people I know who are among the living. That realization has important implications. It means the time has come to be very careful about the rest of my life and to make certain that I am not so careful that I fail to live my life out the way it was intended to be lived.

There are certain principles I will observe because of the realization of the finitude that comes in the "dog days of life".

1. If there is something intended to be done; do it now.
2. Worry about what other people think is over; be yourself at all times.
3. Nothing I possess is worth as much as what possesses me; it is time to become free of encumbrances.
4. Very few of the important battles I have fought were important. More important than loss or gain is relationship. Where there is relationship there is never loss and there is always gain.
5. Religion that is hurtful isn't religion. The only faith that matters is the one that encourages growth. Intellectual explanations are merely game playing ploys that keep the heart from beating and the soul from growing.

What realization have you found in the "dog days of summer" or "the dog days of your life"? In the heat of July what in the world are you learning?

If you have thoughts on this please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the comments box.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster