A Summer Place

     Ah, memories of summer! I turned on the radio just as an old favorite song came on, “A Summer Place.” It brought joy to my heart. I needed to think of something good, considering the state of our world lately.

     The song speaks of a summer place—not a location—but instead, a state-of-being, where one is warm, safe, and free of worldly cares.

     When you think of a favorite summertime memory, you might recall a specific place or location; however, it may have also been significant because of the person(s) with whom you shared those experiences. Hence, the focus of the song.

     If only the world could be in “A Summer Place” at all times! 

     It's hard to focus on good things during turbulent times. For example, a recent news report indicated that eighty percent of Americans are worried about the situation in Ukraine. Unfortunately, worrying won't help. And if we stood in the shoes of the Ukrainians, those worries would be superseded by the fundamental need to be safe, survive, and retain freedom. We can only hope that the war will soon cease.  

     As summer approaches, memories of past seasons might come to mind. We hope that the coming months will be good ones for us. But, for the Ukrainians, this summer will not be the same.  
      
     It's a helpless feeling to watch the devastation from a distance, but we can do our part by keeping the Ukraine people in our fervent prayers. And, it is our hope that their future “Summer Place,” whether a location or a state-of-being, will be a safe one, free from worldly cares.       
      
       May, we, too, have hope for our own future, as we remain resilient, just like the Ukrainians.      
   
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“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”-  2 Corinthians 4:8-9 

Photo courtesy of Veecteezy.com

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