[426 words]
When I was a small boy in North Georgia I used to hear the older folks speak of “Dog Days.” I never quite understood what that meant but I got the idea it meant I couldn’t go swimming for fear of catching a fever or something worse. I suppose every part of the country has different phrases to describe some part of a season where things are strongly affected by the weather. It seems to me that dog days used to be in later August and maybe over into “hot” September.
Well, it may be a bit early for those traditional “Dog Days” but as I remember the long hot summers of the past, after a while all summers seem to wear on folks. It can take the energy right out of one. It’s entirely possible that a summer could feel more like “Dog Daze” if you’ll excuse the spelling change. Thinking of “dog days,” and changing the spelling to “Daze” serves as a spiritual reminder for me, and I hope one that’s beneficial to the reader.
The “Daze” of which I’m speaking is not really affected so much by rain, lack of rain, or by a long streak of heat. It’s more like getting in a rut or getting a little “down” because we miss so many of our Christian family during the summer with all the weekend travel. Attendance numbers often slump. Contributions sag. It’s easy to get to feeling like the enthusiasm of our work is a little low. It’s times like this when we all need to put forth a little extra effort to keep the energy level of our work as a church moving forward. I appreciate each one of you who has put forth those “special” efforts this summer to continue having good Care Group meetings, good Showers for brides and mothers-to-be; those who have thrown their energies into helping the young people have a great youth summer series as well as that for the adults in the auditorium; and many other great activities. Also, we appreciate the spiritual worship time. May we all “Sing with grace in our hearts unto the Lord” (Col. 3:16). As Paul exhorts us,
“And let us not he weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Terry Broome
Broad Street Church of Christ
Scottsboro, AL