June Threads:: Summer Values
Seeking to come fully alive by clarifying what matters most in this next season
Summer offers a change of pace. The weather changes. Sunlight increases and we are eager to spend more time outside. For some of us, there is a change in our routines because kids are home from school or our responsibilities shift because of the work that we are committed to doing all year long.
It is an idealized time where we have lots of visions of what could be. We remember what it was like to be a kid released from the rigor of the school calendar. We had lots of ideas about what we would do in that stretch of summer vacation back then and maybe we need to recapture some of that glee.
In her book Be the Brave One, Ann Kansfield encourages us to not only outline our values but risk living by them. She shares how she came to this notion while on retreat where “the leader challenged us to come up with a list” of “those essential guides” to her daily living.
Once she was home, she “wrote out [her] list of values on a whiteboard.” She snapped a picture with her phone and somehow ended up sharing that image with a friend over lunch which includes such gems as:
When you’re in a hole, stop digging
Holy shit happens
Work with what you’ve got
Authenticity is a path
From that awkward conversation over lunch, where she wondered what made her share this thing hiding on her phone, Ann learned that these were things she wanted to lean into. They created a framework for her living and I’m feeling nudged to bring some of that wisdom into my intentions this summer. What are the principles that will govern my days in this season? What do I want to value most right now? What code shall I carry into these months?
Inspired by Ann’s commitment, I’ve created a resource for you to download and reflect upon as you enter into the warm days of summer. Ann comes up with 13 values and she has noodled with these ideas enough to come up with these fantastic phrases. My list looks nothing like hers for this summer and I hope you’ll feel free to explore what it is what you want and need most in these next three months to experience the goodness of life here and now.
I hope you’ll explore this reflection with a bit of playfulness. There may indeed be big, important things like focusing on quality family time, committing to get outside and embracing joy that you want to explore this summer but keep the wisdom of the second century theologian Irenaeus in your ear as you consider what three things you might commit yourself to this summer.
If you’re curious to see how I’m embracing this practice myself, hop over to Instagram where you can see my three summer values. I may even remember to post about this practice as the summer unfolds and I’d love to hear how this practice unfolds for you in the comments, this thread, the chat or anywhere else.
As you enter into this June practice, here are some questions for reflection and prayer.
What does it feel like to put these ideas on paper?
How might you find accountability in living into these values?
Where does God meet you in setting these priorities?
When do you find these values orient you most toward becoming fully alive?
If one of the values on your list this summer is exploring the wonder of place, you might find these retreats meaningful to your exploration. You can find all of these retreats in my shop on Dandelion Marketplace.
