The End of Summer

Well, the end of this summer, at least. It isn't the end of ALL SUMMERNESS EVERYWHERE! *cue scary music*

This post is odd, in a way, because it is more personal than most of my posts, although there is plenty of revelation in there. Still, I felt I couldn't let the last day of summer go by without some sort of farewell post, a line of demarcation.

Because it is a line of demarcation. And that's ok. And possibly a little scary. Or not. Definitely not. Because it has been a great summer. I mean, the most amazing summer ever. I mean, in this summer I've grown in ways I didn't even know possible. So much so that I am actually ready to go back to school tomorrow.

But with all the goodness that has been this summer, it can be hard to contemplate bidding it goodbye, knowing I can never have another summer like it. Knowing that, tomorrow, everything changes. No longer can I sleep until 9 or 10 am. No longer can I make lunch plans with friends or hang out at out-of-the-way places (like malls and movie theaters). At least on weekdays. Basic things will be different now. Routines, times for certain things (like meals and sleeping). Energy will be funneled into working instead of playing or sitting around. Exercising will be different as I (gasp) have to do it earlier in the morning. Everything will be different.

And that is (definitely not) a little scary. Because it has been so good. What could possibly be better?

And yet, I willingly bid summer goodbye. Because Yahweh always has something better for you when He asks you to give something up.

Because if I tried to keep it, it would never remain good. And unless I give it up, I cannot receive what Yahweh has for me in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. No, it won't be like this summer. It can't be. But that's okay, because I'm not leaving anything behind in this summer. I've gotten everything I can from it. I'm ready for school. I am ready to receive what Yahweh has for me in the next season.

And here's the revelation part. It's so big to me. Yes, it can be scary to let go of something, whether because of how awesome it is or because of lack of knowledge of what is coming. But if you cling to something too long, the sweet turns sour and the beauty crumbles to ashes. Something good--like summer--was meant for such a time as this. But remove it from its time and it shall become something else. Carry it on too long and it shall wither and die--and steal from you.

Because if you cling to what is fleeing, that ever-worsening thing that you hold onto is taking the place of what Yahweh has in store for you now, in this time, Today. Your hands are not free to grasp the new things He has for you. They are, instead, held captive by the embers of your dying fire, the wilted stems of your faded flowers. The faded tendrils of what used to be a tapestry.

When Yahweh holds out a larger flame, a bright and fragrant bouquet, and a tapestry in which you and He are woven and sewn together in a more intricate and intimate way. All waiting for you. As soon as you drop what is past its time.

So I won't keep summer. It's time is nearly past. Almost over. In only a few hours, I shall embark on this new season of life. And I fully expect great things from it. Because then it will be Today.

And Today and Today only, I can hear Yahweh's voice. I will not harden my heart.

And for now, in these last few hours of summer, I embrace fully the Today that is now. HalleluYah!