Summer's Victorious End

My spirit is in denial. In the space between free swim and tuck shop, in the gap of Bible study and morning meetings, in the shock-silence of lineups and the blissful chaos of an excited gathering of little ones the summer has evaporated. I wasn't counting this one down so somehow along the way I lost track, and now here I am, in a cabin that desperately needs cleaning and with a heart that thinks, just maybe, prolonging the mess will prolong the month as well. Foolishness, of course, but one can always dream.

Tomorrow I will wake up in the summer and fall back to sleep in autumn's cool embrace. Many of you wonder (along with my family) where my life will go from here. I wish I had possession of a befitting answer - some brilliant plan or valiant adventure waiting for me next week - but I don't, yet. I don't have my plan laid and for only one more day is that an acceptable answer in and of itself. I plan to enjoy my one-more-hour of freedom by beginning the process of re-packing my life away. Back into boxes, like so many times before. One more chapter written, one more page on the brink of turning. Only the Author knows what lies beyond these precious words.

Hymnary Wisdom

I've begun a new tradition while living here at camp. Several, really, but some of them I expect will fade as summer turns to fall. But this one, I hope, will persist.

While perusing the shelves in our local Sally Ann this week, I picked up a gem of a book. The cover is smoothed from holding, the pages have yellowed at the edges with age and it has the marvelous smell of history, rightfully earned over the past eighty-two years. It is a beautiful thing, this Hymnary, but it is the words arranged on each page that are capturing my thoughts.

Here is one hymn as a sampling, written by a man called Edward Cooper (1770-1833):

"Father of heav'n, whose love profound
A ransom for our souls hath found,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
To us Thy pard'ning love extend.

Almighty Son, incarnate Word,
Our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
To us Thy saving grace extend.

Eternal Spirit, by whose breath
The soul is raised from sin and death,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
To us Thy quickening power extend.

Thrice holy—Father, Spirit, Son;
Mysterious Godhead, Three in One,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
Grace, pardon, life to us extend."

My goal is to read one every night, to reset my perspective before my ritual rendezvous with my bed and pillow. Pardoning love, saving grace, quickening power. The gospel in six words. I have so much to learn.