My favorite way to deepen my faith during the summer is through books.
Last summer, I made a list of books I wanted to read that were related to Christ, the Church, or other faith topics. I borrowed them from the library and bought some to keep and underlined or wrote down favorite quotes as I read. It was great because I could sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, while still praying in a sense. I also learned a lot, not only about my faith, but also about myself. Some of my favorites were “Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love” (Dr. Edward Sri), “The Four Teresas” (Gina Loehr), and “Letters to a Young Catholic” (George Weigel). Almost a year later, I find myself coming back to ideas from these books and realizing how they are still guiding my life.
Whatever you find that works for you, let summer be a time where you mature and grow in your faith, not go backwards or stay the same. It is definitely a challenge, but if you believe in the power of God’s grace, you will likely find that it is a great opportunity to take your faith to a new level. Don’t underestimate your ability to be creative with prayer and making God a priority and don’t confine yourself in your ideas of what prayer is. Just find a way to communicate with God – He’s always there and ready to listen!
Kristen
